Clayton County commissioners voted Tuesday night to hire a former county manager, who lost a challenge to the current commission’s chairman in the May primary, as a consultant on economic development issues.
The decision to hire Wade Starr, a longtime county resident and veteran of Clayton government, caught county commission chair Jeff Turner offguard. Turner learned of the measure at last night’s commission meeting when it was introduced as an emergency agenda item. The commission voted 3-2 to hire Starr.
Turner defeated Starr for the commission chairman post in the May 24 primary. Turner also was instrumental in removing Starr as county manager in 2013.
“This is truly a slap in my face because he ran against me and I beat him handily and now they’re going to turn around and bring him back to consult on Clayton County issues and pay him $3,000 a month to do so.”
Starr said Wednesday he was approached by commissioner Michael Edmondson two weeks ago “to see if I was open to helping out in the areas of community and economic development as well as working with the legislative delegation around local and state issues and I agreed to do so.”
Chief Operating Officer Detrick Stanford said Wednesday Starr will report directly to the commissioners. Starr said the consultant work will not interfere with his role as executive director of the Housing Authority of Clayton County.
Mlore informaton is available here on myAJC.com
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