After rampant speculation that Acting County Manager Mark McCauley’s job may be in jeopardy, he said Monday that he was feeling “very, very comfortable” about his future at Clark County.
Rumors began to spread through county employees, community officials and on social media late last week that Clark County Councilors David Madore and Tom Mielke were pursuing an ouster of the interim manager and a possible replacement.
McCauley, citing growing tension between him and the two councilors, told The Columbian on Friday that he wasn’t feeling secure in his role in Clark County.
“There’s no mistaking the fact that I was genuinely fretting,” McCauley said Monday.
However, McCauley said he spoke late Friday night with Madore, and had one-on-one meetings with Madore and Mielke on Monday, easing his concerns.
“I’m feeling more comfortable with my situation,” McCauley said.
McCauley still has one more hurdle to jump before he can officially knock the word “acting” off his title: ratification by the full five-person Clark County council in January.
The county manager position, which has executive authority over all Clark County departments, was newly created under the home rule charter adopted by voters last November.
McCauley was unanimously appointed to the interim role in December. Prior to that, he was the county administrator, a job he took after former County Administrator Bill Barron retired.
His job is the only county position considered a policy decision by the Clark County council. The manager is appointed or removed by a majority vote of the board.
McCauley is now positive his time with Clark County will not be ending soon.
“I’ve enjoyed my time as county manager,” McCauley said. “I’m looking to the future with optimism.”
