Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 26, 1993 TAG: 9302260188
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
ALLEGHANY OFFICIAL: IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE
After 7 1/2 years as administrator of Alleghany County, Macon Sammons Jr. thought it was time for a change.Thursday morning, the Franklin County Board of Supervisors announced Sammons would be the county's next administrator.
"It just seemed a good time," Sammons said. "I hope the experience I have had and places I have been will prove useful to me here."
Sammons, who will be paid $60,000 annually, has had quite of a bit of experience in local government in Virginia.
Along with his work in Alleghany County, Sammons has been city manager in Manassas, administrator of Goochland County and chief city planner in Lynchburg.
Sammons has a liberal arts degree from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree in urban and regional planning from Virginia Tech.
Sammons' reputation as a good manager throughout the state made him an attractive candidate, some Franklin County board members said.
"I think we had some excellent candidates, but he impressed me the most," board Vice Chairwoman Lois English said. "He seems to be a person's person."
Word that Sammons was headed to Franklin County got out Thursday after he began informing members of the Alleghany County board he was leaving.
Franklin County board Chairman Wayne Angell joked at the beginning of a news conference Thursday morning in Rocky Mount: "It's not as much of a surprise to some of you as it should be, probably."
Clarence Farmer, chairman of the Alleghany County board, released a statement Thursday saying Sammons is "considered one of the top administrators in the state."
"He has helped Alleghany County tremendously through his expertise in local government and management practices," Farmer said.
Sammons said he was aware of the controversy in Franklin County about land-use zoning. He didn't comment on the situation, but said each of the five communities he has served has been zoned. Alleghany County adopted zoning in 1988.
Franklin County, Sammons said, has potential for economic development and he intends to try to sell the county to industrial prospects.
"Competition is very, very intense for new jobs and it seems to be getting more so," he said, "but I have not the slightest doubt that Franklin County can compete."
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.