We have a new county administrator

 

Victor J. "Vic" Carpenter
New Goochland County Administrator

After months of searching, at its May 3 meeting, the Goochland Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized board chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2, to execute an employment contract with Victor J. "Vic" Carpenter as the next Goochland County Administrator. He will begin his duties on June 20,2022.

"There was tremendous interest in the Goochland position," said Spoonhower. "We wanted to make sure we are bringing the best possible candidate (to the county administrator position). The list of finalists was tremendous, we had one from Texas, one from not too far here in Virginia, and one from South Carolina. I think all three would have done a wonderful job. Vic Carpenter has done amazing things where he was and is beloved by all the citizens there."

A GOMM reader shared the following unsolicited comments from a friend in South Carolina  "Vic Carpenter is a friend, visionary, and excellent administrator. Y’all have chosen wisely."   This gentleman then expressed extreme dismay in "that y’all have lured him away from Camden.  His wife Laurie is a powerhouse in her own way doing local community and charitable projects, and thinking big."

 Carpenter was wrapping up the budget season in his current position, County Administrator of Kershaw County, South Carolina. Honoring his commitment to that jurisdiction, he was unable to attend the May meeting in person.

Spoonhower thanked the Hon. Manuel Alvarez, Jr., former District 2 Supervisor, for serving as interim county administrator. "We have been blessed with some great leadership here since last August. Manny came into a difficult situation and was exactly what we needed, right when we needed it."

Alvarez played key parts in last November's successful bond referendum and on the electoral redistricting committee. He worked closely with county and school staff to craft and complete the budget for FY2023.

Carpenter, a former professional Boy Scout, and county administrator of Kershaw County, for more than a decade, was not in the market for a new job when he was approached by recruiter about the Goochland position. "Things were going well. We'd accomplished a lot, but I was ready for a new challenge," he said. "Goochland found me."

Carpenter, who has more than 25 years of government experience, first learned about Goochland from former GCPS superintendent of schools Frank Morgan, whose service in the same capacity in Kershaw County overlapped with Carpenter's tenure there.

"Frank had fond memories of Goochland, and shared the way they did things there," Carpenter recalled.

Morgan, who has returned home to central Virginia, said that there are a lot of similarities between Goochland and Kershaw Counties—rural, with a toe in more developed areas. It is larger both in geographic area and population than Goochland.

"Vic became Kershaw County administrator in the depths of the great recession," Morgan recalled. "He helped the county work through some significant challenges.

Carpenter, said Morgan, brought education economic development, and the community at large together to create KershawVision2030, (http://visionkershaw2030.org/). Having a broad background, said Morgan, helped Carpenter find innovative ways to solve problems, and collaborate with a wide range of constituencies for the betterment of all.

Working with a Luck Stone plant in Kershaw County gave Carpenter another connection to Goochland.

Carpenter got his start in local government when a county administrator he knew through his work with the scouts hired him as a solid waste manager. "No one grows up wanting to be a garbage man, but he thought I had the makings of a good manager and one thing led to another."

He has been actively involved in his community through Rotary International, Kiwanis, and the Boys and Girls Club. He led Kershaw County to receive the American All Cities award and has a history of careful fiscal management that aligns well with Goochland's fiscal philosophy. "Vic really knows how to stretch a buck," said Morgan.

Carpenter is eager to meet all members of county staff. "I want to get to know them and especially want to learn what accomplishments they are proudest of and what's important to them."

He is excited to meet Goochlanders and learn how our community works. Carpenter is looking forward to working on the small area plans for the Courthouse and Centerville villages.

Carpenter has overseen construction and renovation of public buildings, insight and experience that will be valuable as we build a new elementary school, fire-rescue station, and a courthouse to replace the one that has been in continuous use for nearly 200 years.

He will be house hunting in the county in the next few weeks and ready to start work in June. Welcome Vic Carpenter may your time in Goochland be long and happy.