At a news conference today, County Executive Joanie Mahoney announced that she was naming Clay Supervisor James Rowley as her pick for the county’s chief fiscal officer position.

The position is being vacated by Joe Mariana, who has accepted a job in Tompkins County.

Mahoney said she chose Rowley for his combination of private sector experience – he has been CFO at Polaris Systems in Liverpool for several years, is a CPA and recently earned his certificate of school business administration – and time in public office. She was especially impressed with the way he handled the police merger proposal earlier this year.

“I had known of Jim before, but I never got to work with him until January,” Mahoney said. “I got to see him in action, and I was very impressed with the way he handled a very controversial situation. I’m thrilled to have him join the county.”

Rowley said he was looking forward to the new position.

“I’m very glad to be taking this job,” he said. “I know I have some very big shoes to fill, but I hope I can be seen as doing as good a job as Joe did all of these years.”

Rowley still has to be confirmed by the county legislature. If confirmed, he will start Oct. 1.

For the full story, see the Sept. 3 editions of The Liverpool Review and the Cicero-North Syracuse Star-News.