By Diana McFarland

Managing editor

A North Carolinian with a wide range of government experience was tapped Thursday to be Isle of Wight County’s top administrator.

Randy Keaton currently serves as deputy executive director for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and has been there since 2013.

The Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors unanimously approved his appointment. {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

Newport District Supervisor William McCarty was excited about Keaton’s networking capabilities. Windsor District Supervisor Joel Acree said Keaton will be an excellent fit for the community and will be comfortable with all residents in the county.

Hardy District Supervisor Rudolph Jefferson voted to hire Keaton but said he wants more value placed on county employees already on the job.

“Don’t cut off the promotion path within the county,” he said.

Keaton’s career spans more than 30 years. In addition to serving the HRPDC, he has worked as the Pasquotank County manager for 26 years and county manager and finance officer of Perquimans County, both in North Carolina. His public sector jobs began as a register of deeds, budget officer and clerk to the board of Camden County, also in North Carolina.

While in Pasquotank, Keaton oversaw the construction of a new high school, a reverse osmosis water treatment plant and several county buildings.

Keaton holds a bachelor of arts in history from Old Dominion University and has completed coursework in county administration from the University of North Carolina School of Government.

In a prepared statement, Keaton said he was honored to be chosen for the job and looks forward to working as a team.

As part of his employment, Keaton will be moving to Isle of Wight County.

Interim Isle of Wight County Administrator Sanford “Sandy” Wanner will preside over the Aug. 18 Board of Supervisors meeting before returning to James City County, where he was a longtime county administrator and where he said he will begin retirement in earnest.

Wanner agreed to serve as interim administrator in January after the abrupt departure of former County Administrator Anne Seward. Seward decided to leave the job after three new members were elected to the Board last November.  {/mprestriction}