Leadership Transition
Chris Clauson, the current assistant town manager, is on track to step up as the interim town manager for the Town of Blythewood and Fairfield County. This significant development follows a special meeting of the Winnsboro Town Council held Thursday morning, May 9, where the council unanimously endorsed hiring Clauson as interim manager following consultations with the town attorney. This move came just over a week since current Town Manager Jason Taylor announced his resignation. It transpires that Taylor will be joining the Town of Newberry as City Manager.
Clauson’s Tenure and Expertise
The expected start of Clauson’s reign as interim manager is June 1, with Taylor set to depart from the town by the end of June. Clauson brings an illustrious decade of experience in the realm of local government administration to bear in his new role. He has previously served Fairfield County as the community development director under Taylor’s administration for slightly over three-and-a-half years after assuming the position of assistant town manager in July 2021.
Jason Taylor expressed complete faith in Clauson’s capabilities, stating: “The Town will be in good hands under Chris as interim.” He expressed his admiration for Clauson as an “honest, intelligent, and capable manager” whose “institutional knowledge of the county and the town is invaluable.” Taylor also lauded his experience working with Clauson both at the county and town levels.
Prior Experiences and Education
In addition to his roles within Fairfield County and the town, Clauson worked for the Town of Chapin as a zoning administrator and was also associated with the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments, a Sumter-based regional planning agency. He held the chairmanship of Fairfield Forward prior to his arrival at Fairfield.
Clauson is a holder of a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, a Professional Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business, and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Clemson University. Notably, before Clauson’s journey into higher education, he served for six years in the United States Air Force where he was stationed in North Carolina, Afghanistan, and South Korea.
Personal Life
On the personal front, Clauson and his wife Carla are proud parents of three children.
With his profound expertise and record of service, both in the military and civil domains, Clauson is well equipped to assume the role of interim town manager, ensuring a smooth transition during this pivotal leadership change.