PENDER COUNTY — Six months after firing its previous manager, Pender County has made a hire to take over the top administrative role.
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In a 3-1 vote, with Commissioner Jimmy Tate dissenting and Brad George absent, the Pender County Board of Commissioners approved the appointment of new county manager Colby Sawyer during a closed session meeting on Nov. 25. Sawyer is taking over from former manager Michael Silverman, who was fired in April due to performance concerns related to the emergency services merger and the county budget. The county hired Developmental Associates for $24,500 in July to lead a national search for Silverman’s replacement.
County finance director Meg Blue acted as interim county manager since Silverman’s departure. Pender County Chair Randy Burton confirmed Blue will move back to her primary role as finance director, applauding her work leading the county in the meantime.
Sawyer was hired among 70 applicants and comes to Pender County from the Town of Pittsboro, located 30 miles from Raleigh. Sawyer served for the past year as Pittsboro’s communications and emergency management director. Beforehand, he spent two years as the town’s public information officer and emergency management specialist.
Developmental Associates narrowed the pool to a small group of finalists who interviewed with commissioners. Sawyer’s contract will have a starting salary of $175,000 — $5,000 less than former manager Silverman was bringing in. Burton confirmed Sawyer will start in the role on Dec. 1, following his departure from Pittsboro.
Burton said to PCD that Sawyer’s emergency management experience stood out among the other candidates, noting the role of county manager often requires quick decision-making similar to emergency response situations.
Sawyer has two years as an emergency management specialist for Chatham County and holds a master’s degree in public administration, with a concentration in coastal management and emergency management and resilience. He received a bachelor’s degree in criminology and psychology from UNC-Wilmington.
However, Sawyer’s appointment was not made without some disagreement among the board.
Coming out of closed session to approve the county manager’s contract in a public vote, Commissioner Brent Springer made the motion to hire Sawyer. Commissioner Tate asked for more discussion and said he could not support Sawyer’s appointment because he thought Sawyer lacked experience at the county management or assistant county management level. As Pender County continues to grow, Tate said it needs a manager with proven leadership overseeing a large organization.
“The minimum supervision experience is also a great concern of mine, [he’s] currently supervising a staff, to my understanding of one [employee], and yet he would have the responsibility of the leader of this organization of 560 plus employees,” Tate stated. “I would like to say — and would like the record to reflect also — my concern is that no experience over a large, complex budget, which is a major concern for me.”
Tate did not respond to Port City Daily’s phone call Tuesday after the vote.
Speaking with Port City Daily, Springer said he understood Tate’s concern but believed a less experienced candidate could still be the right fit, if the board is committed to working with and providing mentorship to the new manager. He mentioned he is open to exploring a quarterly or biannual performance review for Sawyer to make sure everyone is on the same page moving forward.
“Sometimes when you hire somebody with a lot of experience, they get complacent. With someone newer, you’re able to teach and mentor them to uphold a standard,” Springer said. “If we set those expectations, I believe we’ll be better off for it.”
In a press release sent from Pender County, Sawyer said he is grateful for the opportunity and is eager to begin working with county staff and the community.
“Through collaborative governance, a commitment to service, and a people-first mindset, we will build a community that is more resilient, remains economically strong, and stays focused on serving residents,” Sawyer said.
Burton expressed his confidence in Sawyer’s appointment and potential, emphasizing his commitment to help him succeed.
“I do just want to say a couple of things that when our manager starts,” Chair Burton said at Tuesday’s meeting. “I fully want to support his success and I think all the department heads want to try to do that also. I’m a glass half-full kind of person, and I think that moving forward into 2026 is going to be very good for the citizens of Pender County.”
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