GILLETTE, Wyo. — Campbell County’s new library director’s start date is, tentatively, Nov. 1, Campbell County spokesperson Leslie Perkins said this afternoon.
The county announced Sept. 29 that it hired John Jackson, who has been the director of the Foley Public Library in Foley, Alabama, for nearly 10 years, according to a Campbell County news release. He was director of the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History for eight years. The Baldwin County Department of Archives and History is also in Alabama.
Jackson is taking over for interim library director and Campbell County Human Resources Executive Director Brandy Elder, whom the library board unanimously appointed after firing Terri Lesley, who had worked for the library for decades. Lesley has since made a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to a lawsuit she filed Sept. 27 against three members of the Bennett family. As of 3:45 p.m. Oct. 4, the commission has not published a press release regarding a complaint from Lesley.
Lesley said today that she hopes the appointment works out well for Jackson, the staff and the community.
“Although I don’t know him personally, he has great credentials for the job,” she said.
Library board chair Charles Butler said Sept. 29 that the majority of the board feels confident that Jackson will bring balanced solutions to the library’s current issues.
“The board and the staff feel fortunate that someone with Mr. Jackson’s education, experience and background applied for the library’s executive director position,” Butler said.
There was unanimous support for Jackson to have a second interview, and during that second interview Jackson answered many questions about his library background and how he has dealt with similar situations the library is currently addressing, according to Butler.
“Mr. Jackson’s answers were robust and well-rounded,” Butler said. “They also checked almost all if not all the boxes, including always wanting to move to Wyoming.”
Board member and former board chair Sage Bear said that she is excited such a qualified candidate applied.
“[I’m] hoping that he can mend the relations between the board and the staff,” she said.
The City of Gillette’s Director of Public Affairs, Jennifer Toscana, said that since the library is a county entity, the city and the mayor do not have a statement regarding the director.
Campbell County Commissioner Colleen Faber said Sept. 29 that she was pleased to hear the news of the hire of a new director.
Library staff did not respond to Sept. 29 requests for comment on their perspective on the new director.
Perkins said the request could put staff in an uncomfortable position because Jackson’s contact with staff has been limited since he has not yet started the job, and County 17 should reach out to her or Elder with any questions regarding Jackson and his selection as director.
The board voted 4–1 in favor of Jackson in a meeting Sept. 28. Board member Chelsie Collier voted against. She did not say why.
At the board’s Sept. 25 meeting, Elder said the board had received 11 applications and interviewed five individuals for the executive director position.
