Hiring Ben Brown
Ben Brown, who was recently hired as deputy county manager for Guilford County, was at one point on the selection committee for the opening. Just not during the time he was hired.
In spring 2007, Guilford County Manager David McNeill assembled a team to help search for a deputy county manager. The group included county administrators such as Merle Green, director of public health, and Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen. That team also included Ben Brown, who was then a city administrator for Greensboro.
Then budget season came and derailed that hiring process. McNeill told the approximately 50 applicants that they could reapply in the fall. On the second go, Brown also applied and was hired from a field of 90 people.
Some might wonder if there was something fishy there. McNeill said the process that ended up in Brown's hire was above board.
"One could perhaps try to view it any way they want to," McNeill said, "and I can assure you that this panel looked at everything with the highest integrity in mind."
Brown, a long-time government administrator, was not on the second panel to recommend the deputy county manager choice. So it's not like Brown hired himself.
McNeill said that he made the call on Brown's hire.
Brown said that he chose to apply on a whim.
"It was a neat challenge at the time," Brown, a retired lieutenant colonel for the U.S. Army, said about applying for the position. "Being an old soldier, I've done a lot of different jobs and have been told to do a lot of different things."
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