Finalists Named in Plymouth County Administrator Search

PLYMOUTH - June 17, 2026 - The Plymouth County Commission has officially advanced three finalists to fill the pivotal role of County Administrator, following a review of nearly 40 applicants. Finalists Troy Clarkson, Christopher Heffernan, and Darleen Sullivan will face public interviews on Monday, June 29, 2026, as the county prepares to finalize a job offer by July 1. The decision caps a rigorous pre-screening process overseen by a dedicated search committee aiming to ensure an open and qualified transition in regional leadership.

The Full Story

During the June 17 meeting, County Administrator Frank Basler presented the findings of the administrator search committee, which included Commissioner Gregory Hanley, Register of Deeds John Buckley, and Deputy Treasurer Jeffrey Welch. A total of 38 resume packages were submitted by the June 15 deadline. Using a strict ranking system developed by Register Buckley—which evaluated candidates on a 1-to-10 scale across six performance categories—the committee narrowed the pool down to five highly qualified individuals before recommending the top three finalists to the full board.

“We pre-screened by qualifications... Register Buckley had put together a one to ten ranking system in six categories, and we reviewed that per how it basically fit the job description with preferences, and we ranked them.” — [19:00] Commissioner Gregory Hanley

The board extensively deliberated the logistics of the upcoming interviews to accommodate the commissioners’ complex professional schedules and ensure fairness to the candidates. Commissioner Jared Valenzola and Commissioner Hanley pushed to give the finalists ample runway to plan around their current employment, ultimately settling on late-afternoon time slots on Monday, June 29. The interviews will be fully open to the public, with a formal job offer expected to follow during the next regular meeting on July 1.