Newly hired county manager Rick Moorefield understands his new job from reading the North Carolina general statutes, does not believe that his past work as a county commissioner is relevant to his current post and refers most other questions back to his resume.

In a recent attempt to interview Moorefield about his new job, assistant county manager Susan Holder sat in and often interjected comments when Moorefield would not answer.

Moorefield explained that he considers his promotion “just another job opportunity,” and when asked what he saw as his role as manager, he referred to — and read from — General Statute 153A.

In fact, when Moorefield was named interim manager, he simply referred to that job as “a caretaker position.”

In the first of two telephone interviews — the first with Holder present — she asked, “Did you know that he was a county commissioner?” But when Moorefield was ask to elaborate, he grew silent and when pressed merely said it was “a long time ago” and was not “relevant” to his current position as manager.

Moorefield, in a second interview Thursday, refused to talk about being a county commissioner, saying “I did not report that to you. Mrs. Holder did.” In the interviews, Moorefield would not answer specific questions about where or when he was a commissioner.

Holder, when interviewed again Thursday, said she did not know the specifics about Moorefield’s service on a county commissioners board, only that he mentioned it in passing conversation.

“It was a long time ago. It is not on my resume and is not relevant to my work experience,” Moorefield said.

And when pointing to his qualifications to serve as Sampson newest manager, Moorefield said one only has to look at his resume to figure out what has qualified him for the post.

“It is on my resume, and my experience is accurate on my resume,” said Moorefield, declining again to answer specific questions, referring back to the written documents.

On this document, it shows that Moorefield has worked as Sampson County’s attorney since May 2007. And prior to coming on board in Sampson County, he was assistant county attorney with Cumberland County, county attorney in Macon County, general counsel with Ulmer Limited Partnership and Ulmer Associates and county attorney and clerk to the board of commissioners in Alamance County.

Moorefield is 1976 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in economics and a Juris Doctorate from the UNC-CH School of Law. He also has holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and a certificate of county administration from the Institute of Government in Chapel Hill.

As to what more specifically has qualified him for this post, he comments, “I have been pretty involved these last two years.” In elaborating, he points to the legal work he has done with the county’s major construction projects, including the building of three major high schools.

He added, “I have been pretty familiar with the community and what the county is interested in.”

As to what his exact job will be as county manager, he refers back to the Statute 153 A.

In elaborating, he pointed out that he will be in charge of preparing the county’s budget, attending all county board meetings and performing other duties as called upon by the board.

But, he pointed out that it is not the county manager’s job to recommend a tax increase or even a tax decrease.

“No, the county is submitting the budget, and by law, the county manager is legally bound to prepare a budget.”

As for what Moorefield’s vision is, he pointed out that due to the county dealing with financial stresses, he did not think he should say. “With what we are dealing with now, I hate to dwell, but I don’t think I should say.”

In addition, he did not say whether he is in favor of raising taxes in next year’s budget. Although, in a previous interview, he stated that if the board were to move forward with building Charles E. Perry Elementary, it would in fact lead to a tax increase.

“My position is whatever the board’s decision is,” said Moorefield.

He also chose not to comment on whether he felt a merger between the Sampson County Schools and Clinton City Schools was a move in the right direction or not. “I don’t have an opinion. That would be up to the elected officials to work on.”

He also pointed out that if the board were to consider cutting positions within a department, “Then it will be done.”

In addition to his responsibilities as county manager, he still retains the post of county attorney, a post he has had since 2007.

“Right now, I am the county attorney,” said Moorefield. However, chairman Jarvis McLamb has pointed out that the county board may be looking at filling that position in the future.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by email at silife@myclintonnc.com.