
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993                   TAG: 9309180277
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FRANKLIN PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR GETS PROMOTION

David Laurrell, Franklin County's director of public safety who was twice bypassed for the county administrator's job, has been promoted to assistant county administrator.

The first time Laurrell applied for the administrator's position he lost out to an in-house candidate, then-Assistant Administrator John Lester; the second time, he was bypassed in favor of an outside candidate, Allegheny County Administrator Macon Sammons Jr.

The assistant administrator's position had been vacant under Lester - who insisted he didn't need to hire someone - but Sammons thought he needed a right-hand man.

Laurrell is credited with organizing the county's emergency volunteers, fire companies and rescue squads into an effective organization. He also led the development of the county's 911 system.

Laurrell, who came to the Franklin County public safety department in 1988 from a similar job in Florida, will see his old job filled by Claude Webster - at least temporarily.

Webster, deputy director of operations for the Public Safety Department, has been named the department's acting director. Webster said he is interested in taking over the position permanently.

by CNB