WINTON – Hertford County’s manager chair didn’t sit vacant long.

Thursday evening, the Hertford County Board of Commissioners contacted with John E. Whitehurst Ltd. to provide services for the board.

That contract allows John Ed Whitehurst to serve as Interim County Manager for Hertford County.

&uot;John Ed is a smart man with a strong background,&uot; Commission chairman DuPont Davis said. &uot;He comes highly recommended from the state association. We’re glad we were able to get him.&uot;

Whitehurst will serve as interim after veteran County Manager Don Craft retired Monday night citing health reasons. Craft was nearing 15 years at the helm of the county when he stepped down.

Whitehurst has served as an interim county manager several times and is the retired Bertie County Manager.

He will serve Hertford County for at least six months, according to Davis during which time he will direct budget preparation and adoption for the county.

Davis said the budget was the main reason the county moved quickly to find an interim.

He also said that while Whitehurst is an interim, his duties and powers would be the same as Crafts had been.

&uot;His contract will be just like a county manager’s,&uot; Davis insisted. &uot;He will serve at the pleasure of the Board.

&uot;He will also have the same powers as a permanent county manager,&uot; he added. &uot;He will have the ability to hire and fire and run day-to-day operations.&uot;

The deal unanimously approved by the county commissioners calls for Hertford County to contract with John E. Whitehurst Ltd. at a rate of $45 per hour plus mileage reimbursement at the approved county rate. There will also be a $15-20 per day meal allowance.

The contract calls for Whitehurst to begin immediately.