(Washington County) Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann explained the difference between an administrator form of government and an executive form of government during a recent Community Comment. The county voted in favor of switching formats approximately five years ago.
Schoemann says a county administrator reports directly to the county board.
“So, it has more of a chief administrative officer type of a model,” says Schoemann. “They have authority, they have responsibility, but ultimately their responsibility is back to the county board.”
The administrator is typically hired by the county board following a recruitment process. On the other hand, a county executive is a position elected by the people of the county.
“It’s the most traditional Americana form of county government, and yet, in Wisconsin, there’s only 12 county executives,” Schoemann. “The rest are one of the other two forms.”
The county executive says his position is a four-year term.
