HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The director of the Reno County Health Department is one of three finalists for the county administrator position.
Nick Baldetti has served as Reno County health director for the past five years and was assistant director before being hired for the director position. The other two candidates are Dean Brookshier, who was most recently the county administrator in Clay County (Missouri), and Randall Partington, who is currently the Finney County administrator in Garden City.
Finalist Bios:
Nicholas Baldetti: Under his leadership, Reno County’s Health Department has received numerous statewide awards including Public Health County of the Year by the Kansas Association of Counties. His finance experience has included improving the fiscal outlook for the health department, increasing revenues while decreasing reliance on the general fund and bringing in multiple outside sources of funding. His process improvement focus and community outreach strategies are additional accomplishments. Baldetti has been very active in local and statewide collaborations in healthcare. Baldetti recently completed his doctorate in Business Administration from Creighton University.
Dean Brookshier: Brookshier most recently served as county administrator for Clay County (Liberty, Missouri) for seven years. Brookshier has 18 years of experience in the public sector working in top administrative positions at the city, county and federal levels. He has experience in budget and finance, economic development and revitalization projects, and working with parks and natural resource projects for the county including Smithville Lake. Before working at Clay County, he served as city administrator for Chillicothe and was previously the deputy chief of staff for Congressman Sam Graves. Brookshier has been an active member of his community, owned and managed a cattle business, and earned his undergraduate degree from Missouri Western State University.
Randall Partington: Partington has served for nine years as county administrator for Finney County (Garden City). Partington has extensive management and finance experience. His accomplishments include the passage of a sales tax initiative and construction of a new facility for community services and court services. His financial management experience includes moving the county to a priority-based budgeting process. His economic development experience has been as a partner in several successful industry attraction and expansion projects. Organizational improvements under his leadership have included employee development and adoption of high performing organization values and initiatives. The employee wellness clinic in Finney County has been a model example and has saved the county money. Other communities where Partington served in high profile roles include Fredonia, Kansas, and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. Partington has been very active in his community as a volunteer. He holds a master’s in public administration from Wichita State University.
All three candidates have experience in county government and are active members of ICMA (International City/County Management Association).
In addition to a full day of interviews and candidate presentations, each candidate will submit a writing assignment. Candidates will also tour the community and surrounding area as part of the process. Thorough reference interviews and background checks will also be conducted. A public meet and greet is set for Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. at the Crystal Ballroom at The Burt.
County leaders hope to make a public announcement of the new administrator in January.
