Nearly a year after Lawrence Gatewood retired, Anson County commissioners have hired a new county manager to take his place.

Megan M. Garner of Vass will begin the job on Jan. 4, according to Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Anna Baucom.

Garner has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration from East Carolina University.

She also has certificates in municipal and county administration, the clerks’ certification institute, budgeting and financial planning and annual budget preparation and enactment from the University of North Carolina School of Government, according to Baucom.

Garner works as the administrative services manager for the public works department in Moore County and has also been a grants administrator.

“We ask our community to join us in welcoming Megan Garner to Anson County government,” Baucom said.

County commissioners unanimously voted to hire Garner at the board’s meeting on Dec. 1.

Gatewood retired on Jan. 1. Since then, Baucom has served as the interim county manager.

In September, Baucom told The Anson Record that commissioners were anxious to hire a new manager, but that“the pickings (were) kind of slim” after reviewing applications earlier this year.

One requirement the board set was that the new county manager must live in Anson County.

The position was advertised across the nation through the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the National Association of Counties and on a city and county manager listserv, county clerk Bonnie Huntley said in September.

Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.

By Imari Scarbrough

iscarbrough@civitasmedia.com