GATESVILLE – Gates County Manager Toby Chappell is on a short list of candidates for a similar position in Greenwood County, SC.

Chappell confirmed that information on Friday morning, saying that the possible move is as much personal as it is professionally.

“This is much more than simply a career move for financial reasons, this is a unique opportunity for my family,” Chappell stated. “Greenwood County is only an hour away from my wife’s (Caroline) family, which means our young daughter will be very close to at least one set of her grandparents, and that means a lot to a child’s overall development.

“By no means was there an elaborate plan hatched by either me or my wife to just pull up roots and leave Gates County,” Chappell continued. “This (job) opportunity was just recently advertised and both Caroline and I discussed it at length and both came to the identical conclusion – it’s a opportunity for our family.”

Despite the fact that his name is among the three finalists for the South Carolina position, Chappell said his current address and job remain in Gates County.

“My commitment to Gates County is still as strong today as it was when I was hired four years ago,” Chappell stressed. “If Greenwood County selects one of the other two candidates, both of which are highly qualified, then I’ll continue to work hard for the betterment of Gates County. I’ll continue to do that until the day I leave Gates County, either by my choosing or until the board of commissioners decide they do not want me here any longer. That may be five days from now or five years from now. I just want everyone to understand that I felt obligated to explore this opportunity in Greenwood in an effort for the betterment of my family.”

According to The Index-Journal in Greenwood, Chappell joins Kiawah Island (S.C.) town administrator Tumiko Rucker and former Greenwood County manager Robert “Bob” Haynie as the finalists for the job. The position became open when County Manager Jim Kier tendered his resignation in June, citing his relocation to Greenville, S.C.

No timetable has been established for the members of the Greenwood County Council to choose their new manager.

“I’m just humbled and honored that they would consider me,” said Chappell, who was hired as Gates County Manager in October of 2008 after serving as a Field Operations Sergeant with the Raleigh Police Department.

Greenwood County, with a population of 69,800, is located south of Spartanburg, SC and west of Columbia, SC.