Local Government: George Wood named acting Harnett County manager

By Staff Report, posted May 24, 2021 on BizFayetteville.com

George Wood oath of office- Mr. George Wood takes his oath of office as Acting Harnett County Manager at the May 17 Harnett County Board of Commissioners Meeting.

The Harnett County Board of Commissioners has appointed George Wood as Acting County Manager. The Board has also hired Melissa Capps as the new Clerk to the Board of Commissioners.

Wood’s appointment comes after County Manager Paula Stewart submitted a letter to the Board of Commissioners announcing she would be taking a leave of absence beginning May 14 through the remainder of her tenure and designating Wood as Acting County Manager, effective May 17, subject to Board approval. The Board voted unanimously to name Wood Acting County Manager during their May 17 regular meeting, and Interim Clerk to the Board Lindsey Lucas administered the oath of office. Following Stewart’s official retirement date on June 30, 2021, Wood will be named Interim County Manager, upon approval from the Commissioners, and will serve in that capacity until the Board hires a new County Manager.

“We are very appreciative that Mr. Wood has agreed to serve as our Acting and Interim County Manager as we transition and search for a permanent Manager,” stated Harnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Brooks Matthews. “Mr. Wood brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his past years of service as both a Municipal and County Manager. He is already working hard for the staff and citizens of Harnett County.”

“I look forward to working with the Board of Commissioners, County staff, and the community in this interim period,” stated Acting County Manager George Wood.

Wood has over 40 years of experience in local government administration throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. He is the former County Manager of Wayne County, North Carolina, and former County Manager of Lincoln County, North Carolina. Prior to these leadership positions, he spent 30 years as a City Manager in Statesboro, Georgia, Cleveland, Tennessee, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Pinehurst, North Carolina, and Kingstree, South Carolina. Wood held his most recent position in 2018 and 2019 as Interim County Manager of Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Wood is a former member of the State Library Board of North Carolina, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners' Risk Management Board of Directors, and the North Carolina City and County Management Association. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Georgia Southern University and a Masters in Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas.

Melissa Capps

Melissa Capps will assume her new duties as Clerk to the Board of Commissioners on June 14, following the retirement of former Clerk to the Board Gina Wheeler on April 1.

Capps began her career in municipal government in 2005 with the City of Goldsboro, where she currently serves as City Clerk. She graduated in 2007 from the Clerk's Institute at the UNC School of Government and received her designation for Certified Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and UNC School of Government in 2009. Capps also received her North Carolina Certified Municipal Clerk designation from the NC Association of Municipal Clerks in 2012 and the Master Municipal Clerk Certification in 2016.

Capps joined the NC Association of Municipal Clerks in 2005, where she has served as the District IV Director and Recording Secretary for the Board of Directors. She also been an active member of the Association’s Program & Education, Membership, Finance, We Share Our Services, and Executive Committees Capps is a graduate of Wayne Community College and holds an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Administration.

“We are excited to have Ms. Capps join our team as Clerk to the Board of Commissioners,” stated Chairman Matthews. “She also brings a wealth of experience from her time in municipal government to her new role with us in county government. Her experience and continued educational pursuits indicate a desire for professional growth and excellence.”

New Clerk to the Board Melissa Capps is looking forward to starting her position in Harnett County. "It is an honor to have been selected to serve as Clerk to the Board for the Harnett County Board of Commissioners,” stated Capps. “I look forward to working with everyone and getting to learn more about Harnett County."

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