Scudder named
administrator
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously April 28 to hire William P. ("Jay") Scudder Jr. as the new county administrator.
Scudder has worked in local government for 19 years, most recently as director of planning for Gloucester County.
Scudder is expected to start working in Patrick County on June 2, according to Tom Rose, assistant county administrator.
In his letter of application for the Patrick position, Scudder said he has "helped the citizens of a large urban city, a small city and a suburban county position their localities for the future."
Scudder said his experience and knowledge of government operations is "broad and based on cooperation." He has been involved with school facilities, comprehensive plans, economic development, state and federal grants, housing, and public utility planning.
"I possess a realistic understanding of the balance of government, preserving a community's character and working with people to reach consensus in order to make things happen," Scudder said.
In addition to his local government career, Scudder has six years of experience in financial management, which have included providing analysis and budgeting recommendations to customers on financial and business planning.
"My extensive grants management experience, supervisory achievements combined with my desire to perform, provide me the foundation to manage a county budget and staff," Scudder said.
"As a life-long Virginian, I am familiar with Patrick County, and I see many opportunities for its citizens," Scudder said. "I value the scenic beauty and rural character of your county and have many fond memories of outdoor experiences there."
As director of planning for Gloucester County, according to Scudder's resume, he "guided the county through the transition of the implementation of newly adopted zoning and subdivision ordinances" and developed Gloucester's capital improvement plan. He also directed the evaluation of a planned unit development and golf community encompassing 1,000 acres; achieved donations of private property totaling 120 acres for a master greenway and trail plan; assisted the utility director in the development of a master water and sewer plan; and assisted the Gloucester School Board in projecting school population growth and developing a facilities plan.
Scudder attended Ferrum College and James Madison University, earning a bachelor of science degree in political science and public administration.
He worked as a neighborhood planner and community development coordinator for the city of Lynchburg from 1988 to 1994, a position in which he "administered and fiscally managed Lynchburg's multi-million-dollar Virginia Community Development Block Grant program, creating opportunities for low-moderate-income housing and economic development programs."
Scudder worked as planning and economic development director for the city of Bedford from 1994 to 1999. In that position, he created and implemented plans and programs to accomplish the goals of the planning commission, industrial development authority, housing authority, and city council. According to his resume, he also established an industrial development commission; planned and developed a 110-acre industrial park; built a farmers' market to create a focus for community development; acquired land for the National D-Day Memorial Park; and served on the Bedford City and Bedford County Relations Committee "to foster new ideas and cooperation between the jurisdictions."
Scudder's community involvement activities have included serving on the board of directors of the Virginia Citizens Planning Association, membership in the Ruritan Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bedford Main Street, and Habitat for Humanity. He was also coordinator of the Keep Bedford Beautiful Commission and coordinator of the United Way Campaign.
Scudder has achieved certification in the Virginia Industrial Development Authorities Institute, the Virginia Certified Planning Commissions Program, the Virginia Certified Board of Zoning and Appeals Program, and the Virginia Building Code Academy.