Jefferson County appoints interim administrator

Central Services director takes over executive role

PORT TOWNSEND — Mark McCauley, who has worked as Jefferson County’s Central Services Director, was appointed to interim county administrator Monday following last week’s abrupt resignation of longtime administrator Philip Morley.

The county commissioners approved McCauley’s appointment in a unanimous vote Monday. Morley announced his resignation to county staff Thursday, and his last day in the position was Friday.

Morley, who had worked as the county administrator since October 2008, about 12½ years, will continue to be a county employee through June 30, working virtually to assist the county with the transition, but not as administrator.

The decision on a “mutually agreed upon resignation” was discussed in an executive session of the county commissioners April 26, and it was finalized between commission chair Kate Dean and Morley the following day, Morley said Friday.

Morley said he’s confident McCauley will be successful as the interim administrator, as his current role already had him step into the administrator position when Morley wasn’t there.

McCauley also served as the manager for Clark County before he was hired in Jefferson County, Morley said.

“He had my job in a larger county, so Jefferson County is in good hands,” Morley said of McCauley.

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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.

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