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2020 SESSION

20108259D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 158
Offered March 3, 2020
Commending Cecil R. Harris, Jr.
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Patron-- Wyatt
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WHEREAS, Cecil R. Harris, Jr., county administrator of Hanover County and longtime civil servant, retires in May 2020; and

WHEREAS, a certified public accountant with a degree from the University of Richmond and experience in the private sector, Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris joined Hanover County in 1984, when he was hired as the assistant director of finance; and

WHEREAS, recognized for his diligence and hard work, Rhu Harris quickly moved up the ranks in the county’s finance department before being appointed deputy county administrator in 1998 by the Hanover County Board of Supervisors; six years later, he was promoted to county administrator and has proudly served the county in this role for the past 15 years; and

WHEREAS, as county administrator, Rhu Harris is the chief executive of the county government, responsible for implementing the policies and procedures established by the Hanover County Board of Supervisors and for directly supervising its departments of human resources and economic development; and

WHEREAS, overseeing a county of approximately 110,000 people with an annual budget upwards of $499 million, Rhu Harris is credited with successfully managing Hanover County’s moderate, but consistent, growth over the past several years, effectively preserving its rural character while ensuring the locality’s financial stability; and

WHEREAS, an unparalleled advocate for Hanover County, Rhu Harris has championed its schools and public safety facilities while attracting new businesses and working to keep the county’s tax-rate among the lowest in the region; and

WHEREAS, Rhu Harris’ effective management helped Hanover County attain a highly sought AAA bond rating from all three of the nation’s bond-rating agencies in 2010, making it one of the smallest localities in the country, by population, to earn this distinction; and

WHEREAS, throughout his tenure, Rhu Harris strove to make Hanover County a desirable locale for both families and businesses, putting it in a good position to remain a wonderful place to live, work, and play for many years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Cecil R. Harris, Jr., a treasured civil servant and county administrator of Hanover County for the past 15 years, hereby be commended on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Cecil R. Harris, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ heartfelt admiration and enduring respect for his service on behalf of Hanover County and the Commonwealth.