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Cunningham says he will see himself as team player in county administrator role
Anderson County assistant administrator Michael Cunningham, middle, leads a prayer before the January 22, 2007 dedication of the Anderson Regional AirportÕs Fred G. Tolly Jr. Field runway in Anderson County.
Anderson County Administrator Joey Preston, right, talks shows county administrator assistant Michael Cunningham documents in Monday's South Carolina State Supreme Court decision "in favor of Anderson County," said Mr. Preston.
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ANDERSON COUNTY — Anderson County Assistant Administrator Michael Cunningham said he is realistically optimistic about assuming the county administrator position in December. But first, he’s going to take a day off work.
“I’m going to take a knee tomorrow. It’s my anniversary, and I think my wife deserves the time,” he said Wednesday.
A man devoted to his family and his God, Cunningham said his daily focus will not change despite his new position.
“I have the same three goals every day, and if I accomplish them, I have done well,” he said. “One is to please God. Two is not to embarrass my wife and family. And three is to be the best public servant I can be.”
Quiet and unassuming, Cunningham said he learned early on what a difference a day can make.
“I was really blessed with some tremendous role models, from my grand parents to my mother and father. As a family, it wasn’t about title or wealth, because there was none. If you’re blessed to see a day, then you’re truly blessed,” he said. “I lost a loved one completely out of the blue. They were there one day and gone the next. I know how important a day is.”
And a day after a very tumultuous day for Anderson County government, Cunningham said he is just taking it all in, glad for the opportunity and cautiously optimistic.
On Tuesday, after Anderson County Council approved a severance package for County Administrator Joey Preston, council voted to name Cunningham as Preston’s replacement.
After the meeting, Cunningham quietly left the room.
“Everyone rushed toward Mr. Preston and the council members, so I thought I would head home and catch my kids awake,” Cunningham said. “I didn’t think that anyone would be interested in speaking with me.”
What he did instead was go home and talk to Bridget, his wife of 9 years.
“Actually, I said, ‘Well, sit down,’” Cunningham said. “She was very calm about it. Over the years, I’ve come home and talked to her about things that are going on (like the alleged harassment of Preston). So I think her concern is that there will be that sort of thing happening to us at home. Her primary concern is for the safety of her children.”
The father of two children, a boy, 5 and a girl, 2, whom he did not wish to name to protect their privacy, Cunningham hopes to protect them from the public eye.
It’s a role he assumes, but said he feels is not part of his primary objective in being administrator.
“My goal is to contribute and to help the county to be successful. I’m not interested in credit,” he said. “I have a responsibility to do the best job I can do. … And honestly, all the things we’re doing as a county, I want to see us continue those things, but the leadership role of the community is in the hands of the council, not the administrator.”
He views his role in light of his days playing high school football, seeing himself as a team player.
“I played high school — Dixie High School — offensive and defensive tackle. … We didn’t have a big team, so we had to play both sides,” he said. “I think football is a good analogy in council in this situation. There’s a role for each position to play, but ultimately there’s a role for all of us to play to go toward a common goal. The county has some great employees and we can do a tremendous amount of good if we allow those people to do their jobs.”
A graduate of Dixie High School, Cunningham went on to Clemson University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in English in 1995, and a master’s degree in public administration in 1997.
Cunningham said he started his employment with the county as an intern to the administrator 10 years ago. In January 2002, he was promoted to assistant administrator. Since then he has graduated from Leadership Anderson and Leadership South Carolina. He also serves on several boards — the Community Housing Resource Board of Anderson, the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, Westside Community Center, United Way of Anderson County, Anderson County First Steps, Anderson Federal Credit Union and the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Advisory Council.
United Way of Anderson County President and Chief Professional Officer Carol Burdette said she felt Cunningham would do a good job in his new position.
“He’s on our United Way board, and he’s a great board member. He’ll be a wonderful advocate for the county,” Burdette said. “I would say that he is a leader by example. I think Michael’s a great listener, and he takes in what’s going on around him.”
Cunningham has served as the chairman for the organization’s Success by Six program and the African-American Leadership program.
Lee Luff, president of the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, said he felt Michael would be as asset to the county.
“I think Michael, with his experience, will be good for this county. Michael is very professional. He is fair and he is balanced and he understands the needs for this county,” Luff said.
Glenn Brill, the head of the Anderson County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he is confident in Cunningham’s abilities and believes he will do a good job.
He said he views Cunningham’s promotion as possibly a new start for the legislative and executive positions in the county government.
“It’s my hope that we get the council and the administrator working together again,” Brill said.
Cunningham said he accepts his new position with a bit of trepidation, but with a sense of anticipation of the opportunity it presents.
“I’m realistic. This was an unusual set of circumstances,” he said. “I realize there will be lots of comments and reactions and those are beyond my control. What I hope for is to do a good job and get a chance to serve in the very best way that I can and certainly not to be a distraction from the community and from the leadership and not to be the focus in any distractions.”
And whether or not his tenure as administrator will continue after the new council is sworn in is not for him to determine or worry about, he said.
“That’s something that is beyond my scope of influence and control. My goal is to do my best until God chooses to move me to another place,” he said. “I will be absolutely willing to accept His will. There is nothing that happens to me that He won’t be able to carry me through.”
Until then, he said, he will do what he can with the opportunity.
“I’m optimistic and I pray for some calm and certainly some cohesiveness,” he said. “I know that won’t be immediate, but I’m committed to doing what I can to bring it about. Now, I know how the interim coach at Clemson (University) feels. … You come in under less that opportune circumstances, and you just do the best that you can.”
Independent-Mail reporter Titus Ledbetter, III contributed to this report.
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Shouldn't this job have been advertised? Isn't that the law?
Is he being hired as permanent or interim? The initial article sounded like permanent. Cunningham's quotes sound like interim. There are probably legal reasons why you'd have to officially advertise the job if it's permanent. I suspect what they are doing is saying he'll be interim until a full search can be done and a permanent hire is made. Perhaps he can also be a candidate for the permanent job?
Cunningham sounds like a nice guy. I wish him the best. Anderson could use someone who is not seeking the spotlight.
Since when did "the law" matter. This county has been and will continue to be a "lawless", "good ole boy" joke. I hate to throw a wet blanket on Cunningham, but any student of Preston's for ten years had to know what has been going on and for him to now claim Preston was "being allegedly harassed" smells bad to me. Being the way this came about, any honorable man would want some things cleared up before assuming a "dirty" position. We needed fresh blood from outside as an administrator, rather than a continuation of what has been. Cunningham will feel compelled to protect the old guard and what has been done in the past, as he has been a part of it.
Michael Cunningham is a smart man and knows the truth about Joey Preston, as do many other employees. He has refused to talk to anyone and refused to become involved with Preston, his County Coucil Pupets and the Preston Good Ole' Boys network. Mr Cunningham kept his mouth shut and did his job. He's a man of integrity and will be a great County Administrator. The good ole' boys will not get to him, because he has already REFUSED to become involved with them!
We have a new County Council and County Administrator lets get behind them and move forward for our children and the betterment of the county. Water seeks its own level and Preston's day will come when he goes into the private sector as a partner with Cu_______ and son.
It sure looks suspicious.
Regardless, the first thing he needs to do is eliminate the department heads that were hired by Joey Preston and review the salaries of all the upper echelon empolyees and then reduce them.
Next, he needs to get rid of half the "departments" and "divisions."
I'm with PapaJim, sounds to me like a man with good morals and knows where he stands in the order of first God, then family, then himself. I also like his statement, "the leadership role of the community is in the hands of the council, not the administrator." I say, let's give the guy a chance. Also, will we ever get to the point where we don’t look at the color of a man skin, before making snap judgments about how they’ll do a certain job?
BTW, he needs to take the $10 million from the latest bond issue and use that to pay Joey Preston. Then eliminate all the pork put in their by council members such as Larry Greer.
Example: the $250,000 to renovate the upstairs STORAGE area of the Belton City Hall, which will probably be named for Larry Greer.
You deserve it Michael. I feel so much more comfortable knowing that Anderson will have an extremely intelligent man as their county administrator!
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Congrats to Mr. Cunningham. He will do a fine job. Just take it one day at a time. His feet are planted firmly on the ground. 10 years has taught him how to handle the naysayers. Good luck Michael, I am behind you!!
I'm really happy to see Michael get this job. He has always been very courteous & professional every time I have seen him, and I feel he is a true public servant. The first time I met Michael was a little over 5 years ago when he hired me, along with several others, for a county youth internship program. Although the program was only for the summer, I was able to stay with that job with the transportation department throughout my college years. I appreciate Michael's willingness to make a difference to young people; he always treated us as adults and made sure we were enjoying ourselves. I look forward to the new administration!!
in response to vanhoose
The comment has been removed for violating the terms of our user-contributions policy and the user account has been quarantined. All further posts from this account will be manually screened until such time as a user is deemed trustworthy. The user account and all posts associated with it will be eliminated if improper comments continue."
in response to YesWEcan
I'm sorry to be informed that my comments were removed because someone was offended because I used a "word" stating where the devil lives! I'm new to blogs on AIM and I didn't know speaking your mind to defend who you are was not allowed.
in response to YesWEcan
We must only hear such language as that during prime time on all the major networks. Can we have order>order>order.
The AIM folks get a little carried away. Earlier this month I got a message that said "watch your mouth!" when I referred to politics as a bunch of "rap" (with a "c" in front).
Talk about sensitive!
Mr. Cunningham, The 4 or 5 times my path has crossed yours, you have been very gracious. I wish you Godspeed in your new endeavor. I believe you to be a man of integrity and patience - and with the crowd you will have to answer to come January, you'll need all the prayers and support people can offer!
Good luck Mr. Cunningham.....You are so qualified for this job and you have always been nothing short of honest, sincere and such a positive role model for Anderson's youth. I wish you well.
in response to sophievoter
Well, that does it for me. If sophievoter is enamored with Cunningham then we are in for more of the same crooked nonsense. If I recall correctly, sophievoter is a huge supporter and defender of Preston as well. I am sure all this severance/golden parachute crookedness is just okey dokey, business as usual as well.
i think mr.cunningham will do a great job for anderson,he already knows everything we have and everything we need.let's let him work,he learned a lot of things under preston"some good some bad"i'm sure a lot of things went on that did not meet mr. cunningham's approval but what could he do,he was not the man in charge,but now that he is, let's let the man work!that means you too ANDERSON COUNTY COUNCIL!with that stupid buyout you guy's better not say anything about anybody anymore.
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