NATCHEZ, Miss. – The Adams County Board of Supervisors disagreed Monday on whether to extend the search for a new county administrator.
Supervisor Wes Middleton wants to give potential prospects another two weeks to apply, but his motion for this got stymied by a 2-2 tie vote.
Board President Angela Hutchins said supervisors shouldn’t stall the search for someone to replace Mitzi Conn, whose resignation takes effect July 8. “We’re not going to prolong this,” she said.
With the application process now closed, eight people are bidding to be Adams County’s chief operating officer – a position with a posted salary of $100,000 a year.
Hutchins said candidates will be interviewed June 23 as supervisors plan to decide who to appoint before Conn leaves a position she’s held for just a year. She’s the sixth person since 2020 appointed by supervisors on a permanent or interim basis.
Middleton said insufficient public notification was given to people who might be interested in applying for the job. He noted that an initial job posting incorrectly contained an expired deadline date to apply.
Supervisors aren’t publicly divulging names of applicants, but Hutchins said there’s a pool of well-qualified people. However, Middleton said more candidates are needed to help ensure supervisors have a competent person to fill “the most important position in the county.”
Siding with Middleton is Supervisor Kevin Wilson, who said the next county administrator must have ample financial experience in managing public funds.
Siding with Hutchins is Supervisor Ricky Gray, who voted against Middleton’s motion to extend the search timetable.
Conn is resigning after 15 months on the job. She was hired in April 2025 to replace Stephanie Washington, who resigned after just 14 months.
The county administrator coordinates and directs county government’s day-to-day operations and manages the budget under the governance of the five-member Board of Supervisors. Conn’s decision to resign was disclosed in May after she and the board met in a session closed to the public.
The Board of Supervisors last year selected Conn from a pool of about 20 applicants – a contrast to the eight now vying to replace her.
Referring to a “negative” environment surrounding the Board of Supervisors in recent months as they quarrel and take public criticism, Gray wondered why anyone wants to be Adams County’s chief administrator. “I wouldn’t leave my job to come here into this,” he said.
Prior to Conn’s hiring, board attorney Scott Slover was appointed briefly as administrator when Washington resigned March 2025. She had occupied the position held on an interim basis for a year by Adams County Chancery Clerk Brandi Lewis while supervisors stalled in finding an administrator. This came after the board ousted Angie King in January 2022. King was appointed in 2020, when Joe Murray retired after 10 years as county administrator.
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