By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter

brobinson@thepccourier.com

Stephen Steese

EASLEY — Easley city council members met last week and decided to hire Stephen Steese as city administrator, according to mayor Larry Bagwell.

Steese was selected from 47 applicants to replace departing administrator Fox Simons, Bagwell said.

“According to our form of government, I can actually hire the administrator myself, but I thought that since council will have to work with the new administrator, it would be better if they were involved in the process,” Bagwell said. “They could help make sure we get the right person for the job.”

Bagwell expressed confidence that Steese will excel in the position.

“Fox Simons did an excellent job,” Bagwell said. “(Simons) was very involved with the community. Stephen realizes he’s got a hard act to follow. I am comfortable he can fill those shoes to a perfect fit.”

Steese is currently the city manager for Roxboro, N.C. He graduated from Clemson University in 2000 with a political science degree. He began his career as city manager for Woodruff.

He is married to his wife, Brooke, and they have two children, Nathan, 4, and Samuel, 16 months.

“I think the idea of bringing up his children in the shadow of Clemson University was very appealing to him,” Bagwell said.

Steese will begin his duties in Easley in the middle of June. Bagwell hopes to move soon to hire a new police chief to replace retiring chief Danny Traber.

“Easley’s moving forward, and having Stephen Steese as manager will help us do so right,” Bagwell said. “We can look forward to an exciting time in our city’s history.”

Steese said his family looks forward to living so close to the Clemson campus.

“We’ve got friends who live there, so we look forward to being able to get together with them,” Steese said.

His biggest challenge at first will likely be getting to know Easley residents.

“We need to get know each other well, because we will be working together to make Easley grow,” Steese said. “That’s our biggest challenge by far.”