(COLDWATER) – The number of candidates looking to be the next Branch County Administrator has been reduced from six to three.

During a work session Thursday morning, the Branch County Commission voted to have three of the candidates return for second round interviews. Coming back for those interviews are Jessica Miller, Assistant to the St. Joseph County Administrator; John Morrell, Administrative Manager at the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater; and Frank Walsh, Meridian Township Manager.

The six candidates were interviewed by the Commissioners, with three of the interviews happening on Tuesday and the other three on Wednesday.

The Commission voted 5-0 to have Walsh come back for a second round interview, while they voted 4-1 to have Miller and Morrell return.

Michigan Leadership Institute is assisting Branch County in the search for a new County Administrator. The three candidates will meet with the County employees on August 27 before they are interviewed by the Commissioners.

Whoever is hired by the Commissioners will take over for Bud Norman, who announced he would retire as County Administrator December 31, 2024 after 18 years in the position.