Interim county administrator appointed

Perhaps the most important action taken by the Goochland Board of Supervisors at its August 3 meeting was the appointment of Manuel Alvarez, Jr. as interim county administrator.  The appointment followed a unanimous vote on the matter. The supervisors met in a special called closed session on July 27 to discuss appointment of an interim county administrator and recruitment to fill the position on a permanent basis.

Manuel Alvarez, Jr.

According to a press release distributed by the county: “Mr. Alvarez, who served in executive leadership roles for over 30 years at Altria, will come out of retirement to take on the role of Interim County Administrator after Kenneth A. Young resigned in July.

Mr. Alvarez is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a resident of the county. He has been active in the Goochland community for the last 17 years, most recently serving on the board of Goochland Cares from 2016-present. He was twice elected to the Goochland Board of Supervisors, serving in that role from 2012-2020.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to leverage my leadership and county government experience to assist during this transition,” stated Interim County Administrator Alvarez. “I look forward to fostering the great relationships amongst employees, School Administration, and citizens to ensure our continued success.”

Mr. Alvarez will assume his duties as Goochland’s Interim County Administrator on August 9, 2021. “

Though complementary, the role of county administrator, the county’s chief executive officer, differs from the policy making function of supervisor. Alvarez’s extensive knowledge of county operations, familiarity with county staff, elected and appointed officials, and private sector executive experience qualify him to guide Goochland while the supervisors search for a permanent county administrator.

The announcement of the appointment was greeted by hearty applause in a full board room.