OPINION: 2010 a year of leadership changes

Another major transition in Barrow County in 2010 was the changing leadership of the Barrow County School System. Longtime superintendent Ron Saunders retired in the year and the Barrow Board of Education hired Wanda Creel as his replacement. Amid that major change in leadership, the Barrow school system remained financially strong despite the economic slowdown that has hit all local governments.

In the general county government, public safety issues dominated the year. Leadership in fire and EMS departments was a point of contention all year. Investigations into the handling of finances and training were also an issue in those departments.

More broadly, leadership in the general county government was again a dominant topic. Controversial human resources director Norma Jean Brown exited her role in county government in 2010, bringing to a close several years of debate. Airport authority chairman Frank Nocera came under fire in the year for his handling of the airport’s business and his sometimes autocratic leadership style.

But Barrow County Board of Commissioners chairman Danny Yearwood seemed to find a softer voice and face less controversy in 2010 than the year before where his name was repeatedly in the news. His leadership changed in 2010, many would say for the better.

Perhaps the biggest leadership change in 2010 was in the City of Winder. The death of city manager Bob Beck exposed some deep fissures in the city. In picking up the ball from Beck, Mayor Chip Thompson made a number of mistakes early on by having illegal meetings and keeping secrets from his own council.

But for the first time in years, the council found its own voice that demanded more openness. By the end of the year, the city had united under a new city manager and the secrecy had begun to wane.

Overall, it was these multiple changes in leadership that dominated 2010 in Barrow County. It’s too early to tell how these leadership transitions will play out. But Barrow has a large need for strong, effective leaders.

Let’s hope 2011 will be the year that such leadership happens in Barrow.