BY MIKE FUHRMAN

The Mooresville Town Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday evening to hire Tracey Jerome, the senior deputy city manager for the City of El Paso, Texas, to be the next Mooresville town manager.

Jerome will begin work on April 29. She succeeds Randy Hemann, who resigned in August after accepting a manager’s position in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

“We wanted a great town manager and we looked at a lot of people, and it was clear — all seven of us thought Tracey was going to be the absolute perfect fit for where we’re going in the future,” Mayor Chris Carney said.

Commissioner Lisa Qualls made the motion to approve Jerome’s contract after the board met in closed session for about 20 minutes and the end of Monday’s regular meeting.

“This is special — to be the first woman manager of the Town of Mooresville,” an emotional Qualls said in her motion.

Jerome, who has worked for the City of El Paso since 2015, said she is excited about working with the mayor, commissioners and town staff “to move forward in the way this community really wants and deserves.”

“It’s an in incredible community with a great deal of history,” she explained. “It’s growing and doing amazing things. I was really very interested in the opportunity to come and be a part of this new chapter that is happening.”

In El Paso, Jerome was initially hired as director of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department before being promoted to managing director of Museums and Cultural Affairs, Libraries and Tourism. After an appointment as deputy city manager, she was appointed to her current position as senior deputy city manager in 2022.

Prior to joining the City of El Paso, Jerome worked in the public and private sectors in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from The College of William and Mary, a Master of Science Degree in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University, and a Master of Arts degree in the History of Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London.

Terms of her contract were not immediately available.

Jim Landon has served as interim manager since late October.

Commissioners thanked Landon for his service. Newly elected commissioners Eddie Karriker and Will Aven said Landon had helped them get acclimated to their new roles.