GATESVILLE – He’s back!

The Gates County Commissioners took a familiar road in finding an interim County Manager, hiring Kenneth W. (Ken) Windley Jr. effective March 10.

Windley is no stranger to Gates County local government, serving a previous stint as interim manager from Nov. 1, 2012 until early January of the following year.

“I was glad to be in position where I could fill in,” said Windley after day one on the job on Monday. “I built some good relationships during my previous time here.”

Windley was hired to an “open contract” as the Commissioners work to find a full-time manager. He will work a minimum of four days a week as the interim. His contract with the county calls for 15 days notice by either party should Windley need to leave or the commissioners fill the full-time position.

That position is available due to the recent resignation of County Manager Jon Mendenhall. After only 13 months in Gates County, Mendenhall has opted to accept the Town Administrator’s job in Carolina Shores located in Brunswick County.

Windley is a 37-year veteran of city/county government. The Carteret County native has served in the capacity of a city/county manager from 1984 – 2010 and a planning director from 1975 – 1984.

Windley’s most recent full-time job (which ended in 2010) was manager of Robeson County in the southeastern portion of the state. He served in that capacity for seven years.

His previous experience includes interim manager of Polk County; manager of Davie County for nearly 10 years; and Carteret County manager for eight years. He just recently ended a four-month stint (May – September, 2013) as the interim manager in Tyrrell County.

Windley has also worked as a planner in Georgia; a planning director in Johnston and Onslow counties; and a city manager in the town of Erwin.

After graduating from East Carteret High School in Beaufort, Windley earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in administrative services, both from East Carolina University in Greenville.

Windley’s last stint as the interim in Gates County followed the resignation of Manager Toby Chappell in September of 2012. Chappell, who had served as manager since 2008, left Gates County for a similar position in Greenwood County, SC.