Board of Ed member Joy Schaefer to take over
Frederick, Md (KM). Some changes are taking place at Winchester Hall. During her public information briefing on Wednesday, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner announced that Roger Wilson will be leaving his post as Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy. He will be replaced by Joy Schaefer, whose currently the Vice President of the Board of Education.
Gardner said Wilson has been with her Administration since she was first elected in 2014. As Government Affairs and Public Policy Director, Wilson serves as liaison between Frederick County, and its local, state and federal partners. He represents Frederick County at the Maryland Association of Counties and Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments. But Wilson is best known for advancing Frederick County’s interests in Annapolis during the Maryland General Assembly. “He stayed on top of actions and votes during the fast-paced General Assembly Session, which gets to be pretty tough as the session comes to a close every year. And he’s worked to advanced legislation speaking on behalf of the county’s interests at a variety of committee hearings,” Gardner says.
Wilson says he leaves this position with mixed emotions. “I’m sad about the end of this chapter of my life. But also so excited about what tomorrow brings. First and foremost, I want to thank Executive Gardner for your leadership and for giving me the opportunity to be part of your team,” he said.
In addition, Wilson said he’s proud of the work that’s been done to increase Frederick County’s influence in Annapolis. “Frederick County has a loud voice in Annapolis now. A voice that speaks up for our schools, our economy and our transportation needs,” he said. “Speaking up for this county on the state level benefits the citizens of Frederick for generations to come. I’m honored to have been a part of this legacy.”
Wilson will remain on the Frederick Board of Aldermen.
As Wilson leaves, Schaefer will be getting ready to take over as Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy on or about December 16th. “I have big shoes to fill. Roger Wilson has been extraordinarily effective in moving forward legislative priorities,”; she said.
But Schaefer says she’s ready for this new challenge. “I look forward to building on his strong work, and working for the people of Frederick County, working for the people in this administration. It is deeply committed to keeping Frederick County strong and vibrant and working for all of its residents who live and work here,”: she said.
Schaefer has tendered her resignation to the Board of Education, which means a vacancy will need to be filled. . Under the Charter, the County Executive appoints new Board members with confirmation by the Council. But Gardner says she created the vacancy and wants to do things a little differently. “So I will be asking the County Council to take on the initial process of interviews, and then ask them to submit names of three people they would like me to consider for nomination. I will then present one of those names back to them for the Council’s confirmation,” she says.
Gardner says she would like the names of those three candidates to be submitted to her by January 1st, 2020.
By Kevin McManus