Walker County, Ga., Emergency Services Director Randy Camp is jumping ship.
Camp will become Catoosa County’s fire chief at the beginning of next year, replacing Chuck Nichols, who is retiring. The switch means Walker County Commissioner-elect Shannon Whitfield will have to make his first important hire as soon as he takes office Jan. 1.
Whitfield said he plans to meet with all current Walker County department heads, including Camp, next week. Whitfield isn’t sure why Camp is leaving, though he heard from leaders of other North Georgia local governments that Camp has been looking to leave Walker County since the beginning of the year.
For example, Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Earl Gray told the Times Free Press that Camp applied to be the new city manager when Ron Goulart left Aug. 1. Camp did not return calls seeking comment for this story.
“It wasn’t a shock to me that he took another opportunity,” Whitfield said Monday. “I wish him well on his new venture.”