Former Beaufort Co. administrator hired in NC. But you’re still paying her salary
Former Beaufort County Administrator Ashley Jacobs, who resigned under pressure last year, has accepted a job in North Carolina’s most populous county, according to a Thursday news release.
Beaufort County taxpayers will still pay Jacobs’ full $190,000 salary through Oct. 19, 2021, because of a separation agreement signed by the Beaufort County Council. The county will likely no longer pay her benefits now that she is re-employed, according to the agreement.
Jacobs will be moving across state lines to serve as the chief information and innovation officer for Wake County, N.C., according to the news release. Her first day is June 14.
“I selected Ashley, because she brings the right combination of experience, skills and creative thinking to this important role in the County Manager’s Office,” County Manager David Ellis said in the release. “Ashley knows how to bring people together to achieve a common goal, and that’s exactly what we need as we look to tackle the challenges our community faces in new and impactful ways.”
Jacobs was forced by Beaufort County Council to resign last October after only 18 months on the job — a move criticized by many in the community.
In Thursday’s announcement, Wake County touted Jacobs’ “two decades of county government leadership experience” and her “strong understanding of how to build lasting community partnerships.”
She will oversee the county’s “vast technology infrastructure” and “find new and innovative ways to solve problems and enhance services.” Wake County’s population of over 1.1 million — which includes Raleigh — is more than five times Beaufort County’s population.
Jacobs’ departure from Beaufort County
Jacobs resignation on Oct. 19 came just days after The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reported that, during a closed-door meeting, a 6-5 majority of the council expressed its desire to move on from their top employee.
In the wake of Jacobs’ departure, County Council members refused to say why they wanted her out. In March, County Council member Gerald Dawson told a reporter that Jacobs didn’t get “a fair shake.” He said he worried that other members of council would try to force out other employees.
In her short tenure in the county’s top role, Jacobs consistently clashed with Council member Stu Rodman over Rodman’s continual circumvention of rules and backdoor conversations with employees.
Rodman was forced to resign as the council’s chair a day after The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reported that he used his private email and phone to discuss government projects and refused to allow the public access to them.
Jacobs faced some criticism for high staff turnover near the end of her tenure. Although Council member Paul Sommerville called the turnover a “mass exodus,” others said it’s normal for staff to leave under a new administration.
And some in the community said the Beaufort County Council was too involved in the day-to-day operations of the county during Jacobs’ tenure.
This story was originally published May 13, 2021 at 2:52 PM.
