Two Interviewed For Top County Job

Spokane County commissioners interviewed on Wednesday two employees who hope to become the county’s chief administrative officer.

Commissioners said they’ll choose between Francine Boxer and Dennis Scott for the position being vacated by Jim Lindow. They did not set a date for making the decision.

Boxer, a 24-year county employee, is interim chief administrative officer.

She started as an office assistant in Juvenile Court - the lowest-paid position in county government - and rose to become Lindow’s assistant. Her duties also include overseeing parks, golf courses and the fairgrounds.

Scott is director of public works, by far the largest department in county government. He moved to Spokane in 1974 as vice president and regional manager of an engineering firm and joined the county in 1986.

The chief administrative officer oversees the county’s 1,700 employees and answers directly to commissioners. Unlike the city manager, the position does not include the authority to hire and fire department heads.

Both Boxer and Scott recommended eliminating the position of assistant administrative officer, which Boxer has held since 1995. The assistant no longer is needed, they said, because the county is running more smoothly than when Lindow took over.

, DataTimes