Two days after he was asked to step down from his post as county administrator, Tom Rose said he was not surprised at the request.

“She’s been on a campaign to oust me for awhile,” Rose said.

Crystal Harris, of the Smith River District, called for Rose to step down during an August 13 meeting of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, citing poor job performance and a lack of transparency.

“I’ve never been on a campaign to oust him. I just want him to do the job he’s paid to do,” Harris said.

“I’m elected by the people to take care of their tax dollars, and Tom is not doing the job he’s being paid to do,” she said, adding she has been told Rose rarely goes in to the office, “and these late-night calls to employees and others don’t count as work hours,” she said, and explained that she has been told by multiple people that they are called late at night and asked “what went on in the office.”

Harris said several good employees have left the county due to “his pattern of trying to manipulate. We’ve lost five good people and another one now.”

Harris said she was referring to the recent resignation of Debbie Foley, director of the Patrick County Economic Development Authority.

Harris also said Rose had been told “numerous times” not to take telephone votes of board members because it is illegal, but he persisted in doing so. She said the board also has passed resolutions that are not being followed.

“No, I’ve never been on a campaign, except to get him to do the work this county is paying him to do,” Harris said. “I stepped up (and called for the resignation) because of the taxpayers. I know the rest of the board does not agree, but I’ll take my licks,” she added. “I’d like to see him leave now.”

Jane Fulk, of the Dan River District, said she was surprised by Harris’ request. She declined to discuss specifics, but Fulk said “there’s always room for improvement in anyone’s performance.”

Fulk, who took her seat on the board in January, said “since I’m a newbie, we will have to look at it and see what kind of weight it deserves.”

Fulk said she does not believe Harris is on a campaign to oust Rose. “I think she (Harris) may feel like there’s room for improvement in things, but we haven’t talked about that.”

Rickie Fulcher, of the Peters Creek District, also said he was surprised at the request, but “I guess I was not surprised in that I know there are some issues and concerns in the administration office as far as personnel.”

He declined to elaborate, but said “I think she (Harris) has some concerns as to how the office is being operated. I think the concerns are worth investigating,” Fulcher said.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, “I think if there is an appropriate case presented, I would (vote) to do what’s best for the county,” Fulcher said.

Karl Weiss, of the Blue Ridge District, said Harris has “always had some issues with Tom Rose as the county administrator.” The fact that Harris called for his resignation “does not surprise me at all, but it takes a majority. Nobody else agreed.”

Weiss said he has heard no complaints or concerns about Rose’s job performance, either from his own constituents or others.

Lock Boyce, board chairman and of the Mayo River District, said Harris has wanted Rose out “for many years. Tom is a strong administrator who serves the interests of Patrick County and he is dead honest,” and “has created hundreds of jobs in this county, or he’s saved hundreds of jobs.”

He said he had no idea what Harris was referring to when she cited a lack of transparency and “back door politics” among the reasons for her request.

Boyce said Harris prefers a county administrator “who is malleable to her,” and while there is no truth to Harris’ statement that Rose is Boyce’s puppet, “Tom and I do work well together.”

However, Boyce said that does not mean the two agree on everything. “I can express my opinion to Tom and he can express his opinion to me, but I have no improper sway or control over Tom Rose,” Boyce said.

Rather, he said Harris “spreads rumors and intimidates people and goes behind people’s backs” to try and get the outcome she desires, and “that’s not the way we should operate.”

Harris, he said “has continually been against me and she’s continually been against Mr. Rose.

“I think she has served the county a good, long time,” Boyce said of Harris. “She has health issues, and if anyone should resign, she should.”