Vest Named County Manager

As of Wednesday, March 20, 2013

The Moore County board of commissioners has named Tax Administrator Wayne Vest as the new county manager.

Vest, who has served as interim county manager since last December, was given the nod in a closed session meeting prior to Tuesday's regular meeting of the board.

Wayne Vest

Vest said he planned "no big changes" in his new role.

"I plan to continue to work with the board and county department directors to facilitate the plans they have for the county," Vest said. "We've got the budget coming up, which is a big project of course, and will just be doing what needs to be done as we finish out the current fiscal year."

Vest initially took the place of the late Jim Westbrook, who died in an automobile accident on Nov. 27, the day after he began his duties as interim county manager. The previous County Manager, Cary McSwain, retired from his position on Nov. 30.

Commissioners' Chairman Nick Picerno praised Vest as the person that board members hoped would accept the county manager position.

"Wayne was an early favorite of the board, even before I was reelected and Randy Saunders became the newest commissioner. Wayne works well with the board and with other county departments, and to me he was the obvious choice. We are glad he has agreed to join us."

Read more in Friday's edition of the Pilot.

More like this story

dentman65 2 months ago

Congrats Wayne - Glad to see someone born and raised in this County in this job!

Toda 2 months ago

Chairman Picerno's previous comments were indicators that a manager would be given the position even though Mr. Vest lacks any prior administrative experience as an assistant or county manager. No doubt that Mr Vest is a good person by anyone's' standards, albeit, management qualities come in the form of years of experience. Like most positions in county government, a combination of education and experience leaves the door open for micromanagement opportunities by commissioners.

More good old boy politics at its finest.

Toda 2 months ago

Good for you PM! No one so far has made any comment about being a nice or good person. The nuts I suspect you are referring to are those elected officials who have taken over county operations through micromanaging departments.

So share where working for textile manufacturing correlates to being a county manager? There is more to the current restructuring than most who doesn't keep up with political maneuvering would phantom.

Kudos to Chairman Picerno for taking my suggestion about a county news letter. It should be named the Sunshine Crier...

clodfelter37 2 months ago

Congratulations Wayne. Moving from the basement to the top floor is quite an accomplishment. Way to go.

difflook 2 months ago

Its good to see that someone can still "rise up through the ranks" within Local Government. Wayne Vest has a proven track record of management and supervision by leading the tax department for many years. Having a vast amount of contacts within Moore County and the State will help him to be successful. Being a Moore County native son is an additional plus, as he has added incentive to help Moore County and its great group of employees reach higher goals. Congratulations to our New Manager.

Toda 2 months ago

From another blog and thread:

fugitiveguy ~ you mentioned my constant overview of county government. I have over the years, along with others who contribute to viable insight into the county operations. I won't go into deal again on why so many have reservations about the ethics of elected Moore County Officials. I post information that is in the form of written documentation or verbal conversations with people who are close to the county government. The Moore County TEA Patriots have taken no interest in what is going on in Carthage because of politics...short and simple. They would rather mount a bus to Washington than to publicly complain about the 20 million that could have been saved on the Grand Palace. I will be glad to email the documents to you ... no questions asked. I also had several very cordial lunches with Nick Picerno. I didn't agree with him on many issues face to face. During our conversations, I said one of the issues is getting their message out to the people of Moore County. I knew last year or longer that Wayne Vest was in line for County Manager. I was asked on a couple of meetings what I thought about having a county manager without previous experience? I also suggested a county news letter similar to the Bonacord in Aberdeen. To let the people know what is going on...but there are subliminal analogies as well. Chairman Picerno and his team are now resorting to micromanaging county government; department heads and managers are responsible for budgeting their departments. Not elected officials looking inward without department insight on a daily operational basis. Also, Mr. Picerno has higher political aspirations in Raleigh or Washington. He has a difficult hill to climb with Southern Software LLC lingering in the background and how an absent of bids on software and hardware for county government....A lot more ....

Toda 2 months ago

What is missing from the conversations is the loss of Ken Larking the assistant county manager.

He has the experience, education and is well versed in governmental operations. Anyone who would be passed over as manager, would look elsewhere. We have lost a valuable asset to government operations here in Moore County.

Anyone who keeps up with the political machine here in Moore County would see how MoF is taking control of operations through micromanaging something Chairman Picerno stated would never happen! Ken Larking is the most qualified person to be our manager...but he isn't a yes man for Piceno and Caddell...best of luck to Ken on his moving on leaving a real political travesty in his wake.

rightwingpatriot 2 months ago

Congrats Mr. Vest! we all know you can do it. gotta start some where, just ignore the comments from that ignorant toda he cant help he's un-educated, raised poorly, ect. he would have been better as a stain on the sheets

Toda 2 months ago

rightwingpatriot => and cowards hide behind anonymity ... like you!

Is that the best you can come up with or are you limited by your insecurity? Wussy!

rightwingpatriot 2 months ago

seems i struck a nerv. id hate for you get physical. wouldn't want you to break a hip in your old age.

Toda 2 months ago

How far would I have to chase you? Don't think you would have to hold back considering my age...I can hold my own....Stand up or sit down ~ Coward!

You're the one who chooses to hide like a terrorist planting slurs and condescending remarks.

by Tommy Davis

Toda 2 months ago

PM ~ It's people like you who call others names and make snide remarks then think it is okay. I've found over the years, when one has no facts to challenge statements, like children and cowards they resort to condescending remarks.

If you can't be civil, then don't start with challenging remarks....

alladat1 2 months ago

Hey Wayne - please give PM a job so he will quit sucking up to you.

Toda 2 months ago

s/he must have worked for him once before but got out of Dodge before the gunfight at the courthouse square:

PM 1 day, 16 hours ago Congrats Wayne! - You were great manger/admin when I worked with you! Dodge the nuts! ^^ ha ha

Toda 2 months ago

Perhaps someone could provide a link for a "headhunters" website where the managers position was advertised? Surely that position was advertised, or another in-house political appointment like the nepotism occurring with the Sheriff's Department.

Courseaire 2 months ago

I believe they had a "For Hire" sign in the window.

herecomesthescience 2 months ago

Maybe Toda is having another spell of his, better call the Sheriff to wrestle him down again.

Toda 2 months ago

herecomesthescience => are you smart enough to look up the number? Can't face facts or truth about that move to the top by one who is a great person without any experience as a county manager. Take your cheep shots. I'm out in the open ~

And whose hiding ...?

No Courseaire => that maneuver has been planned for at least a couple years now. Interesting that there has been no comments about Ken Larking throwing up his hands in disgust and leaving. He knew what MoF had in mind ... and he wasn't a "yes, sir" man and wasn't willing to be micromanaged by Nick and Larry!

herecomesthescience 2 months ago

Easily agitated internet kook is easily agitated. Too funny.

cmptrepair 2 months ago

Some of you people are so disgusting with your remarks about Tommy a very fine person who has a disease that a magority of Americans have. You should be ashamed and hopefully you won't get diabetes. God forbid.

herecomesthescience 2 months ago

Maybe he should refrain from baiting other people on here and saying "Take your cheep shots. I'm out in the open". If you invite and provoke, you get what you ask for.

Toda 2 months ago

" internet kook"

I've got your internet kook right here? Want to come out of the closet and get some?

herecomesthescience 2 months ago

Point proven.

cmptrepair 2 months ago

so what did you say hcts to provoke a response? stay with the blog rather than making insults and idiots like you et, al can attemt to write like civil human beings. none of you know tommy like some of us do. visit his unc hospitals oncology and radiology page on facebook. he donates blood platelets every week for children at the cancer hospital. what have you done lately for someone else?

Toda 2 months ago

Proved what? You have the ability to make snide comments that has nothing to do with the blog topic?

Or just instigating remarks that can't go without a response. You and others make me a target for condescending remarks; while hiding behind anonymity. Where I come from people like you are called cowardly. You can wear that badge proudly ... You and others attempt to silence me as opposed to taking time to understand what is being said about a subject. That makes you naive to the world around you.

So you consider your derogatory remark: herecomesthescience 1 day ago Maybe Toda is having another spell of his, better call the Sheriff to wrestle him down again. As an acceptable comment on the subject of Wayne Vest given the County Managers position.

You are a coward, and comfortable hiding behind the internet,

Next month will be a year and you people have nothing to contribute or better to say.

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