Goochland County Administration Building. (Courtesy Goochland County)
Goochland has looked to a familiar face to help temporarily lead the county after the recent resignation of its top manager.
The county announced Tuesday the appointment of Manuel “Manny” Alvarez Jr. as interim county administrator. His duties begin Feb. 24.
It marks a comeback of sorts for Alvarez, who previously served as interim county administrator in 2021 following the resignation of then-administrator Kenneth Young. Young, who was in the role for less than a year, left for the city manager position in College Park, Maryland, a position he still holds.
Alvarez will succeed Victor Carpenter, who has served in the role since June 2022. Carpenter submitted his resignation letter to the Goochland Board of Supervisors in late January. His last day on the job is Feb. 20.
Goochland officials declined to comment to BizSense on Carpenter’s resignation at the time.
Manuel Alvarez Jr.
Carpenter said in his resignation letter: “It is with a degree of sadness that I inform you of my desire to separate from Goochland County. I have determined that I should seek a new direction.”
Alvarez told BizSense Wednesday that he is not aware why Carpenter is leaving.
“Young was a bit of a surprise, but he ended up in a bigger locality in Maryland,” Alvarez said. “And I’m not sure about Mr. Carpenter. … He’s helped me a lot with the [Goochland VA] 250 committee.”
Goochland has had other turnover in recent years. Former Deputy County Administrator Krystal Onaitis stepped down from her role after just over a year in November 2023. Josh Gillespie is currently in that role.
Alvarez said his interim agreement calls for him to be in the position for three to six months or longer, if needed, as the county searches for a new administrator.
“I’m just coming in to see what I can do to keep us running until the board selects a permanent [administrator]. Hopefully somebody that’ll stay longer,” he said.
He served in the interim administrator position for just under a year in 2021 and said he is not yet sure if he will hold the position for as long this time around.
Alvarez has numerous other roles in Goochland County, serving on the boards of the nonprofits GoochlandCares, the Goochland County Historical Society and Goochland’s VA250 Committee. He was twice elected to the Goochland Board of Supervisors, serving from 2012 to 2020.
Alvarez said he is excited to return to the role as interim administrator as numerous development projects continue in the county, including the “Project Rocky” fulfillment center planned for Amazon in Rockville.
California-based Panattoni Development Co. is driving that project, described in applications as having a total of 3.1 million square feet of space.
Project Rocky would add traffic signals to its entrance off Ashland Road and at the nearby Interstate 64 interchange, which is planned to be upgraded to a diverging diamond design. Driveways for nearby Luck Stone facilities would be relocated as part of the project.
“There’s a lot of road construction that’s going to need to happen in order to support that,” Alvarez said, “so I think managing it well so that it doesn’t impact the citizens too badly is important.”
Goochland County Administration Building. (Courtesy Goochland County)
Goochland has looked to a familiar face to help temporarily lead the county after the recent resignation of its top manager.
The county announced Tuesday the appointment of Manuel “Manny” Alvarez Jr. as interim county administrator. His duties begin Feb. 24.
It marks a comeback of sorts for Alvarez, who previously served as interim county administrator in 2021 following the resignation of then-administrator Kenneth Young. Young, who was in the role for less than a year, left for the city manager position in College Park, Maryland, a position he still holds.
Alvarez will succeed Victor Carpenter, who has served in the role since June 2022. Carpenter submitted his resignation letter to the Goochland Board of Supervisors in late January. His last day on the job is Feb. 20.
Goochland officials declined to comment to BizSense on Carpenter’s resignation at the time.
Manuel Alvarez Jr.
Carpenter said in his resignation letter: “It is with a degree of sadness that I inform you of my desire to separate from Goochland County. I have determined that I should seek a new direction.”
Alvarez told BizSense Wednesday that he is not aware why Carpenter is leaving.
“Young was a bit of a surprise, but he ended up in a bigger locality in Maryland,” Alvarez said. “And I’m not sure about Mr. Carpenter. … He’s helped me a lot with the [Goochland VA] 250 committee.”
Goochland has had other turnover in recent years. Former Deputy County Administrator Krystal Onaitis stepped down from her role after just over a year in November 2023. Josh Gillespie is currently in that role.
Alvarez said his interim agreement calls for him to be in the position for three to six months or longer, if needed, as the county searches for a new administrator.
“I’m just coming in to see what I can do to keep us running until the board selects a permanent [administrator]. Hopefully somebody that’ll stay longer,” he said.
He served in the interim administrator position for just under a year in 2021 and said he is not yet sure if he will hold the position for as long this time around.
Alvarez has numerous other roles in Goochland County, serving on the boards of the nonprofits GoochlandCares, the Goochland County Historical Society and Goochland’s VA250 Committee. He was twice elected to the Goochland Board of Supervisors, serving from 2012 to 2020.
Alvarez said he is excited to return to the role as interim administrator as numerous development projects continue in the county, including the “Project Rocky” fulfillment center planned for Amazon in Rockville.
California-based Panattoni Development Co. is driving that project, described in applications as having a total of 3.1 million square feet of space.
Project Rocky would add traffic signals to its entrance off Ashland Road and at the nearby Interstate 64 interchange, which is planned to be upgraded to a diverging diamond design. Driveways for nearby Luck Stone facilities would be relocated as part of the project.
“There’s a lot of road construction that’s going to need to happen in order to support that,” Alvarez said, “so I think managing it well so that it doesn’t impact the citizens too badly is important.”
Wish someone would spell out what is really going on here.
Yes – I appreciate the story, but it lacks depth.