Commissioners Change Mind on Brooks as County Administrator

The search for a County Administrator for Harris County is underway again, according to the county website and County Commission Chairman Susan Andrews.
On Thursday, Aug. 6, the following post was made to the county website:
“The Harris County Board of Commissioners is continuing the recruitment process for the county manager position.
“Additional information regarding the search will be provided as it becomes available.”
The Harris County Journal contacted Andrews who stated the “Board had decided to go in a different direction.”
Georgia law requires that all documents concerning as many as three persons under consideration for the position be made available to the public at least 14 days before the agency’s public meeting where the selection is voted on. The purpose is to give the public and community members sufficient time to reviews the candidates and offer input to the governing body before the vote.
Andrews noted that the board did its due diligence and determined to move in a different direction.
In late June the commissioners announced it had narrowed the search for a new County Manager to a single person – Barry G. Brooks.
The Harris County Journal reported, Brooks had been serving as the Assistant County Administrator and as Interim County Manager for Dougherty County, a position he had held since June 2023. Prior to serving as Assistant County Administrator for Dougherty County, he served as Assistant to the City Manager of Albany holding that position for five years.
Brooks also has experience in state government having served in a number of roles in Florida state government.
Brooks was to be formally hired as the Harris County Manager during the commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Brooks would succeed Clark Harrell, who was hired as county manager on Apr. 1, 2025, and left the position in July 2026.
Andrews said the Board can consider the other applicants who applied previously or begin the application process over, but that decision has not been made.