Inside Leonard Sossamon
Leonard Sossamon spent the past week moving from North Carolina to his new home in Hernando County.
On Monday, he will settle into his second-floor office and become Hernando County’s newest county administrator, and the public will see him in action during his first commission meeting Tuesday.
Will Sossamon be the man who bucks the trend and stays in the job more than a few years?
County commissioners hope so, and Sossamon says he has every intention of doing so.
Hernando Today talked to the 61-year-old North Carolinian this week to learn what he will do when he starts his duties.
Here is part of that interview:
Q: What will your first week on the job look like?
A: I will start meeting with staff, talking with (interim County Administrator) Ron Pianta, (budget manager George Zoettlein) and others to go over the budget, where we are, because that’s something that needs immediate attention.
I want to find out where we are, what we have tried. Let’s see If I can come up with some new ideas or twists on old ideas.
Then, obviously, I will be talking with the commissioners and different department heads. It’s going to be a busy week.
Q: There is a perceived high level of dissatisfaction toward county government officials. What will you do to reduce the level of negativity in the community?
A: I want to see exactly where the origin of those feelings are, to see if they are valid or not and, if it is, see what we can do to change those attitudes.
If there are problems, let’s try to find a solution to them and build a bridge to re-establish that trust.
Residents must know their problems are going to be heard. The (county administrator) needs to re-establish that foundation with not only the public but also with the staff.
As the lead person, I will be the person most of the time that people will expect to carry the ball and go a long way in terms of establishing trust with the public.
Q: Hernando County has not had a good track record of retaining administrators. How do you plan to reverse that trend?
A: Hopefully, I’m going to be the first person who can reverse that trend. I believe in doing the best job possible, being compassionate with concerns and trying to find the way to solve problems that exist and lead by example by being out front.
I don’t look at this as a steppingstone. I don’t even think about retiring, I really don’t. I like to stay active and busy. As long as the commissioners, the public, are happy and I’m happy, why not stay?
I look forward to being here on (Monday), and I hope everyone has good expectations. That meeting the second day will obviously be interesting and exciting.
Q: How long will it take you to get up to speed on Florida law?
A: There are some similarities between Florida and North Carolina. The Florida (Government-in-the-Sunshine Law) is probably more rigid, more strict, and I’m sure the county attorney, Garth Coller, will keep me straight on that, so I will count on him.
Q: The community was incensed by the same-day euthanizing of an 8-month-old pit bull at animal services. The county clerk’s office is doing an audit of the department. Have you been following this issue?
A: I guess the hot-button issue is animal services. I have been following it. I haven’t had a chance to talk in detail (with staff), but I’ve read the newspaper articles and watched part of a meeting where it was discussed.
I want to sit down when the audit is completed and find out what happened.
Q: How will you work with the media?
A: I will try and be as open as possible and as responsive as possible. I think the public should be informed, and I think the media coverage (in Hernando County) is good.
Q: Do you plan to be visible in the community? What is your impression of Hernando County, based on your recent visit?
A: I do get out and about. I like to exercise. I am more of a people person, (and) everybody appears to be very friendly.
Q: Explain your management style. Should there be a clear-cut chain of command?
A: I like to have my door open and talk with people, public and staff. Obviously there is a chain of command, but (I) like to help staff solve problems, and if they need help, give me a holler.
Why have department heads if you do not let them do their jobs?
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Sossamon’s wife, Esther, will stay in North Carolina for about a year until she wraps up her job there and retires.
Until then, he will be living in Hernando County alone.
“It won’t be the easiest thing,” he said. “But she has vacation time built up over the years, so we’ll have long weekends and holidays, and I’m looking forward to that.”
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