Mayor Garnett Johnson has named a longtime city employee and two from outside the area as his top picks for the Augusta administrator position.
Johnson released – in alphabetical order – the names of city CIO Tameka Allen, Richard D. Chess and Robert J. Sivick as the three finalists.
“These recommendations are based on candidate experience. He is not making a formal recommendation,” said a statement from Brennan Meagher, communications and community liaison for the mayor’s office.
The list does not include interim Administrator Takiyah Douse, the former Central Services director who has served as interim administrator for almost two years.
Allen has been with city government for 31 years and worked her way up to her current position as head of the city’s IT department. A deputy administrator under former administrator Fred Russell, Allen served as interim administrator for most of 2014 after the commission fired Russell.
Chess has held several positions with local government in the Fort Lauderdale area, including director of finance for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority and assistant general manager of transportation with Broward County.
Sivick most recently served as county administrator for Whitfield County, Ga., according to his LinkedIn profile. He previously served as city attorney for the City of Grand Island, Neb., for almost five years.
The Augusta code calls for the mayor to release three finalists including his preference to the commission, which makes the final decision.
“Mayor Johnson continues to prioritize transparency and looks forward to this being a public process and to the selection of a permanent administrator,” the statement said.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
