In her first high-profile personnel change, new Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Anderson County Grants Coordinator Alan Beauchamp has been laid off due to an office restructuring.
“I was forced to do that to have assistants in the office,” said Frank, who was elected Aug. 2 and officially took office at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1.
Frank said there were no longer be one full-time grants coordinator. Instead, Richard Burroughs, her chief campaign volunteer, will serve as both grants coordinator and chief of staff.
More information will be added later.
Sam says
Well Angie, Frank did in one fell swoop what you couldn’t do in years of effort. Now don’t you wish you had voted for her? LOL
Tj says
Maybe she will do here what Palin did in Alaska to get rid of the political hacks.
To the victor belong the spoils.
Terry will be a good administrator.
Onslow West says
I don’t know your definition of “political hack,” but many would consider a “campaign manager” to be closely akin to such.
Indeed, to the victor belongs the spoils, including the appointment of one’s own “hacks” to replace those of the former mayor.
Mike says
It’s been said before but I’ll do so again, CN is not Angi and Angi is not CN.
CN says
While I do think the Grants Coordinator was under-performing, doesn’t a chief of staff say that she can’t handle the job?
Sam says
Mike…. We all know who Angi is and most of us know who CN is. BTW CN, 7,000 voters seem to think that Frank can do the job. Did you miss that? And Mike , how are things at the Outpost these days?
CN says
Yeah Sam, I know. She won. But what she is now saying to me, after the election, not before it, is that she needs somebody to do the day to day stuff. Is that what you voted for?
Sam says
That’s exactly what I voted for CN. Most county/city Mayors have a chief of staff to handle the routine day to day things so they can concentrate on the bigger problems. That’s what 7,000 voters said loud and clear. Get over it.
Onslow West says
Hmm, as of 9/5/12 the org chart on the mayor’s web page doesn’t list a chief of staff position, though it does have a second-level subordinate bubble for “Grants.” Check it out:
http://www.andersontn.org/mayor.html
At the time I voted the furthest thought from my mind was the possibility of jobs creation within the mayor’s office. I say “jobs” creation because Mayor Frank is quoted as saying that – in addition to the newly created chief of staff position – she “wants assistants in the office.”
Onslow West says
I fear I might be simply beating around the bush with the above comment. I suspect the following sequence of prioritized events:
1. Fire Alan Beauchamp because I want to and I can.
2. Provide political cover by couching the firing in terms of a strategic reorganization.
3. Reward my campaign manager by hiring him into a newly created county position. (And not some subservient “grants coordinator” position but one that is joined directly to the mayor, right alongside the Law Director and HR Director.)
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s traditional county government politics.
Abbey says
Executives surround themselves with hard-working, capable individuals that assist them on many levels. Mr. Beauchamp was hired to assist Rex Lynch when he was first elected County Mayor. Mr. Beauchamp worked as a campaign manager for Rex, and Congressman Fleischmann in both elections. Would it be surprising for the Congressman to hire Mr. Beauchamp? Why is it such a stretch for the new mayor to bring a trusted supporter to work with her?