County manager finalist announced

John Hanson of Pike County was announced as a finalist for the county manager position at the Tuesday, Aug. 27 meeting. After a two hour meeting and a closed session to discuss the appointment of a county manager, commissioners voted unanimously to announce Hanson as a finalist for the position. Hanson is the vice president of West Central Georgia Bank in Thomaston. He is assistant coach of the Pike County High School Pirates baseball team. Hanson previously worked as branch manager of United Bank and sales manager at Cornerstone Communications. Hanson received a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University in Macon in 1996 and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Banking in 2001. Hanson is currently a board member for the Pike County Parks and Recreation Authority and the Boys and Girls Club Pike County chapter. The county must wait 14 days from the announcement of the finalist before making a final decision and appointment. Hanson could be appointed as county manager at the commissioners’ Wednesday, Sept. 11 meeting. Former county manager Mike Phillips was fired April 11 after serving for eight months. The law firm of Morton and Morton served as interim county manager after his termination and after the resignation of Bill Sawyer in spring 2012.