By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

The search for a new county Social Services director is over.

Tuesday night after a brief closed session the Columbus County DSS board voted to hire (pending pre-screening) one of several applicants who interviewed for the position.

Linda Fry is currently employed as the director of Marion County DSS in Marion, S.C. but will reside in Columbus County, officials said.

“I’m honored to be chosen for the position,” said Fry who applied for the position just one day before the closing date and begins her work here on August 1.

As for why Fry would make the move across the border, her answer was simple.
“I love this area. I really prefer the way North Carolina does business because it is a county driven system,” Fry said. “South Carolina runs their department out of the state office.”

“She is a very wonderful person,” DSS Board Chairman and County Commissioner Amon McKenzie said.

Board members, through a confidential search, individually ranked the candidates on a number of questions prepared for the interviews, McKenzie said and pointed out Fry had done exceptionally well.

“References followed suit,” McKenzie said. “No one had anything negative to say – all positive.”

“I would like to say we have had some wonderful candidates,” he said. “Every candidate is a potential director some where – they are just that qualified.”

Four of five board members, McKenzie, Guilermo Noguera, Ruth Storms and Kenneth Skipper were present and voted for Fry.
The vote to employ her would have been unanimous, Storms pointed out. Michael Lewis was not present but was contacted via conference call during the closed session.
The salary range was advertised at $49,842 – $101,997 but McKenzie said the salary is still in negotiations. Under state statute, the Board of Commissioners must approve the pay but the DSS board has the sole authority to hire and fire the director.

Assistant Director Mary Thompson who planned to retire this month has served as interim director since March but said she would stay on board until August or September.
Fry will supervise a staff of 142 employees and is responsible for staffing and personnel issues. The director also serves as the principle spokesperson for the agency, according to the job description.

Fry is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Masters of Social Work. Prior to her employment with the S.C. Department of Social Services, she worked in various human services positions throughout the country including Virginia, Tennessee, Oregon and Alaska. She has four children and six grandchildren.

In other actions:
The board bid McKenzie farewell as his term expires June 30 and commissioner Ronald Gore will then take a seat on the board.

Vice Chair Kenneth Skipper announced he is up for re-appointment and said if he does not return to the board that he has enjoyed serving. His seat is one of two filled by a state board appointment.