Richie McAlister

    Richie McAlister, the assistant to Meridian Mayor Percy Bland for the last two and a half years, is now the city’s chief administrative officer, after being unanimously approved for the position by the city council Tuesday night.

    Bland told council members that McAlister “understands that the CAO is where the rock meets the water, in making the mayor’s and city council’s vision for this city a reality.”

    McAlister’s responsibilities as Bland’s assistant included organizing the Governor’s Job Fair, working with the National Resource Network and several other initiatives.

    Bland said several candidates with varied backgrounds interviewed for the position, which has been vacant since July.

    “He’s done a lot of great things for this city,”  Bland said. “He may not have been the person with the most years of experience that we interviewed, but he stood out. He’s done a great job for us so far, and we’re hoping he’s going to continue to do a great job.”

    “The time I’ve spent here, I’ve had some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life,” McAlister told the council. “We have a great city, and we have a great team here… I just want to serve the citizens of Meridian the best that I can.”  

     Dustin Markham of Ward 2 said that he was skeptical about McAlister’s lack of administrative experience, but that changed after he spoke with him last week.

    “You don’t have the six supplemental years of experience it calls for,” he said. “But you have the will to do the job.”

    One priority for the new CAO, Markham said, will be to bridge the gap between the administration and city workers.

     “A lot of things fall between the cracks,” he said. “But you have the opportunity now to bridge that gap.”

     “Others looked good on paper, but you had one of the best interviews,” said Kim Houston of Ward 4, who was on the CAO interview committee.

    “We are a team,” she told McAlister. “And sometimes working with more seasoned people, we can get drunk on power. I want to encourage you to stay sober – don’t let it go to your head. There’s some great people here with a lot of knowledge. As the wheel continues to turn, we can do great things together for this city.”

    “I have not known one member of that family who did not do a good job. I’m delighted to see this come about,” said Barbara Henson of Ward 3, who has known McAlister’s family for three generations.

     McAlister, who has a degree in political science from Mississippi State University, has worked in construction as a carpenter and project manager. He also worked with the Digital Opportunity Trust, a non-profit organization funded through the Phil Hardin Foundation. He took the job as Bland’s assistant in July 2013.

    “I’m a numbers guy,” he said following the meeting. “I believe in data tracking and making strategic decisions from data collection. In the end, you’ll be able to identify where your inefficiencies are, and how to address those while maximizing your efficiencies.”    

    McAlister said he planned to meet with the mayor and department heads today, where they will start working on a 90-day and 180-day plan.

    The city had been without a CAO since July 3, when Mike McGrevey resigned to accept a position as deputy director at the Mississippi Development Authority.

    McGrevey had been in the post 17 months before leaving to join the state’s top economic development board.