KINGWOOD — Preston County will have a new County administrator beginning July 5.
At a recent meeting commissioners announced they hired Nathan Raybeck, who is currently living in New York.
Kathy Mace, who has served the county as administrator for more than 15 years is retiring, but said she will stay to help with the transitioning.
Raybeck said moving back to Preston County is coming home.
“I’m from Preston County,” he said. “I grew up in Kingwood. My family is still there, but I’ve been away for a quarter of a century.”
Raybeck said when the opportunity to move back to Kingwood came his way, he took it.
“I’ve missed nearly a quarter of century with my family. That was my motivation for applying for the job,” he said.
Raybeck said his first job was as a newspaper carrier for The Dominion Post. He said he used to pick his papers up in front of the old bank. Raybeck said he also worked under one of The Dominion Post’s local editors, Kathy Plum, who is now retired.
“I’m currently finishing up my tenure as a legislative assistant for Sen. Bryan Kavanaugh in Senate District 27 in lower Manhattan, N.Y.,” Raybeck said. “I do bill analysis for him, meet with constituents, advocates and lobbyist. I do office management, supervise students and volunteers and recruit them for campaigning. I’m excited to only have three bosses (the county commissioners).”
Raybeck has a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy; a master’s degree in educational philosophy, and a Phd in religious studies and education with a concentration in philosophy.
“I am most excited about coming home to the outdoors. I lived in the city (New York) and I missed bring outdoors. When I was growing up, we would go to Canaan Valley and Black Water Falls. I’m also looking forward to going to the Buckwheat Festival. The last time I was at it was in 1996.”
When he is not working, Raybeck said he has an unusual hobby he pursues.
“I collect pencils, both modern and vintage.” he said. “There was a time when I was younger that I played tennis. I would like to return to that.”
Commission President Samantha Stone said Raybeck was chosen for the job out of 16 applicants. She said the commission was presented with applications but the names of the applicants were redacted.
“We didn’t know who the applicants were. We chose the one we believed was the best qualified,” she said.
“He has the experience and qualifications to meet the needs of the commission. We’re excited for him to get started.”
Mace said she enjoyed her time working with the commission and the people of Preston County.
“This is my second attempt at retiring,” she said. “It’s nice to have my son coming back to Preston County and my daughter living in Morgantown. Retiring will give me lots of family time and my son will be able to visit with his sister.
Mace said she enjoyed her time as county administrator and is excited about the future.
“I’ve looked at the county government and a lot of younger people are presently involved in it,” Mace said. “We have a young prosecuting attorney, a young superintendent of schools, our new county administrator is young, and we have three young county commissioners.”
Raybeck said he is looking forward to learning a new process. He said although he is not scheduled to begin work until July 5 he plans to be in Kingwood earlier so he can get acclimated.
“There is work to be done and I’m ready to get to work,” he said.
