NEWS
Bay County Health Department Director Interviews
Kristina Hamilton
It's been six months since Dr. Jason Newsom resigned as director of the Bay County Health Department and officials still have not named his replacement.
In August, authorities postponed one set of candidate interviews, but the interview process resumed Thursday morning.
A total of six candidates are being interviewed for the Bay County Health Department Director's position.
The panel, made up of seven people, began the interviews Thursday morning. The panelists include two men from the Florida Department of Health, the Holmes County Health Director, the operations manager for the Bay County Health Department, a Bay County physician, current acting health director Dr. Dennis Cookro, and Bay County Commissioner Jerry Girvin.
"We use a very diverse panel even though you know under Florida law it would be much simpler for a one on one interview but we don't feel it's effective we feel it's effective when it is in the public and open and we do have a wide and broad perspective looking at the candidates," says Michael Sentman of the Florida Dept. of Health.
The health department officals originally invited seven people to interview, but one declined at the last minute.
Thursday morning the first candidate, Donna Gregory, spoke with the panel.
Gregory is stranger to the Bay County Health Department, once serving as director of nursing.
The second candidate was Dr. Godfrey Vaz, the only doctor of the group, who is currently a county health officer in Tennessee.
The afternoon sessions included Michael Easley who is a dentist and Douglas Kent, who is Gulf County's Health department director.
Dr. Jason Newsom is not among the interviewees. Newsom resigned from the director's position in May, under heavy criticism over messages he posted on the department's electronic sign, about several fast food businesses.
A few weeks later he said he was forced to resign, and submitted his name for consideration to be rehired.
Julia Ruschmann with the Bay County Health Dept. says it's been a long six months and that she and the rest of the staff are ready for a more permanent leader.
"We really are excited and we have a lot of employees and we've kept things going with Dr. Cookro's leadership but yeah we really are excited for our permanent leader and to really start working together," says Ruschmann.
Officials say they could make a decision in a matter of days. The final two candidates will be at the health department Friday for their interviews.
Once panelists make their selection, they'll present their recommendation to Bay County Commissioners.
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