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WINTON – Hertford County has hired a veteran of local government affairs as its interim manager.

Kevin Patterson began his interim duties last week. Prior to coming to Winton, Patterson served as the Scotland County Manager since 2007.

Although his time in Hertford County may be short, Patterson stated he gives 100 percent effort no matter the job title.

“Where ever I am, my goal is to improve the lives of the people in my community. Hertford County is now my community,” Patterson told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald.

He also feels at home in Hertford County, saying, “I lived and worked in a rural community that relied heavily on agriculture.”

“With Mr. Patterson’s experience in local government, he will be a great asset in guiding us through the process of recruiting and hiring our next full-time county manager,” stated Andre Lassiter, chairman of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners.

Lassiter added that Hertford County is working with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners in soliciting applications for a full-time manager.

“It is our hope to have that person in place by early next year,” Lassiter said.

According to his contract with Hertford County, Patterson will serve as Interim Manager from Aug. 1, 2013 to March 1, 2024, unless a full-time manager is hired prior to the expiration of the contact. He must notify the county 30 days in advance of leaving for another employment opportunity.

Patterson is hired at a rate of $65 per hour and his work shall not exceed 30 hours per week. He will generally work Monday through Thursday of each week during normal business hours of Hertford County local government. From time to time, he will attend meetings or perform services outside of normal business hours.

Hertford County will reimburse Patterson the prevailing IRS rate for travel to and from Patterson’s residence in Laurinburg to Winton, as well as mileage for any other duties and responsibilities required for the position.

Hertford County will reimburse Patterson for lodging expenses in Hertford County up to a maximum of $300 per week.

A 1993 graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in Accounting, Patterson worked for 10 years in a CPA firm. He got his first taste of working in the public sector when hired by Scotland County local government in April 2004 as its Finance Officer.

After completing an initial probationary period, Patterson’s title changed to Finance Officer/Assistant County Manager.

In 2006, Patterson added to his duties by being appointed as Scotland County’s interim Health Director during a transition within the Health Department. He repeated that assignment during the COVID pandemic, overseeing the coordination of the distribution of vaccines along with working with the Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Additionally, Patterson served as interim director of the county’s Department of Social Services and facilitated the DSS Board’s search for a director.

As county manager, Patterson worked with county and Municipal boards to create the Scotland County Economic Development Commission, a partnership between the county and primary municipality for Economic Development recruitment and retention. He served as the county’s interim Economic Development Director for a year between developers.

He became Scotland County’s Interim Manager in 2007 after the resignation of John Crumpton. He was named to the role permanently on Jan. 1, 2008, and served in that capacity until resigning on May 20 of this year.

In Hertford County, Patterson replaces David Cotton as Manager. After a three and one-half year tenure, Cotton resigned effective July 31 to become the Cleveland County Manager.