In naming its new county administrator, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court has promoted from within, appointing Assistant County Administrator Chandler Merritt to the role.
Merritt, 41, has worked at Tarrant County for seven years, first as chief of staff to the county judge before becoming assistant county administrator in May of 2021.
Merritt will succeed the retiring G.K. Maenius, the only county administrator that Tarrant County has ever known.
"We're not appointing Mr. Maenius' replacement, because some things just cannot be replaced," Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks said during Commissioners Court on Tuesday.
"I know that he has learned from an amazing mentor," Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare said, "but he also has ideas of his own about process improvements and efficiencies."
The vote to appoint Merritt, however, was not unanimous.
It was 4-1, with Alisa Simmons dissenting, saying she felt there was a more qualified candidate from the outside who had interviewed for the job.
"One colleague referred to this candidate as superior," Simmons said. "Yet another colleague referred to the same candidate as the Ferrari of all those who were interviewed.
"I personally believe the isms crept into this process: cronyism, racism," Simmons added.
Manny Ramirez disagreed with Simmons' assessment of Merritt's qualifications.
"He has 100% earned the opportunity to step into the shoes left by Mr. G.K. Maenius," Ramirez said.
Ramirez said the fact that Merritt is already working for the county will work to his advantage.
"We need a bridge from our longtime 35-year incredible county administrator," Ramirez said. "And I think Mr. Merritt with his experience, his education and everything that he brings to the table is the perfect person to step in and be that bridge for us into the future."
Merritt will become county administrator on Oct. first, the day after Maenius officially retires.
"We're excited to welcome you here, we're expecting great things from you, and we know you'll do a fantastic job as the next Tarrant County administrator," Judge O'Hare said.
County Administration Building now bears Maenius' name
Even though Maenius will be stepping down at the end of the month, he will not soon be forgotten; the Commissioners Court unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday renaming the county administration building the G.K. Maenius Administration Building.
The sign outside the 43-year-old building was unveiled immediately after the conclusion of Tuesday's Commissioners Court meeting.
"We believe naming the County Administration building after G.K. Maenius not only recognizes his remarkable career, but stands as a testament to the legacy he leaves behind, which will continue to have a lasting impact on Tarrant County for many years to come," Judge O'Hare said.
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