Robbinsville – A familiar face to many will remain at the helm of Graham County, following a vote at the Graham County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night.
The board unanimously approved the appointment of Interim County Manger and Project Manager Jason Marino as the county’s new manager, effective immediately.
Marino was appointed interim county manager at the board’s March 16 meeting – taking over for former County Manager Becky Garland, who announced her intention to step down after serving as county manager since 2017 in a story published in the Feb. 4 edition of The Graham Star.
Garland remains the county’s chief financial officer.
The board approved Marino’s appointment after a closed session lasting approximately 40 minutes.
“I am very honored that the board has the confidence in me to do the job, and I’m excited to actually go to work for the people of Graham County,” Marino said.
He said his main focus initially would be large construction projects, including the county’s planned justice center to replace its current courthouse, which was built in 1942.
“My hopes really rest on hopefully finding the best things for the citizens of Graham County, making the county prosper and making it as good as possible for everybody in the county,” Marino said.
Marino will retain his role as project manager for the time being, due to his construction background and intimate knowledge of ongoing county projects.
However, he said it was not impossible that the county hires a new project manager as his tenure goes on.
“That’s probably open-ended right now,” Marino said. “I will be dual-hatted for the time being, only because of my deep knowledge with the projects that are ongoing – and as they start progressing, those things that take a while to get in place, then we might take a look at hiring somebody to come in as project manager.”
He also said he would be able to draw from his construction, military and business backgrounds to help him lead the county.
Marino is a business owner, and currently serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve at the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer.
“A little bit of all of those aspects will help me be as rounded as possible,” Marino said.
He emphasized repeatedly that his first priority would be doing what was best for the citizens of Graham County.
“I’m humbled by this position in front of the citizens of Graham County, and I hope to do the best I can for them,” Marino said. “I hope they instill that confidence in me until I show otherwise.”
When he was first appointed as interim county manager, Marino also lauded Garland and Board Clerk Kim Crisp for their service, saying they had “set the county up for success.”
“That’s what it is,” Marino said. “We’re citizens of Graham County working for the citizens of Graham County.”