Interim Schuylkill County Administrator/Director of Economic Development Gary R. Bender of Tower City on Wednesday was promoted to county administrator at $80,051 a year.

“At first, it appears overwhelming,” Bender said of his new role. “There are so many things going on in the county. But it’s a great opportunity for me. I’m in the twilight of my working career — I’m 65 and a half,” he said.In June, he said he wasn’t sure he wanted to apply for the job. But after talking it over with his wife, Melissa, he decided to submit his resume.“We have three great commissioners. They all get along very well. There’s a great office staff here, too. The more I thought about it, I said, why not?”The job will be challenging. Bender comes on board just as the county begins to craft its 2017 budget.As county administrator, he’ll work with Finance Director Paul E. Buber as he builds the budget.Bender also will implement commissioners’ policies and manage the county government’s daily operations.Bender was named interim administrator at $67,700 a year on June 8 following the retirement of then-county administrator Mark T. Scarbinsky.Fourteen people applied for the job. A committee of Scarbinsky, former Blue Mountain School District Superintendent James S. Fogarty and former Blue Mountain High School Principal Jack P. Wabby, all Democrats; Jeanne B. Porter, vice president of Boyer’s food markets and county solicitor Alvin B. Marshall, both Republicans, reviewed the applications and interviewed the candidates.They winnowed the list to three who were then interviewed by county Commissioners Gary J. Hess, Frank J. Staudenmeier and chairman George F. Halcovage Jr.On Wednesday, Hess was absent from the commissioners’ regular public meeting, attending the funeral of a close friend. Staudenmeier and Halcovage voted for Bender.Hess, a Democrat and the board’s minority member, had reservations about Bender’s role as chairman of the county Republican Committee as he was being considered for the interim job.Bender on Wednesday said he will resign that position. He said he keeps politics out of his work at the courthouse, and has a history of working well with Democrats.As if to underscore that statement, he received a congratulatory call from a former commissioner, Democrat Frank McAndrew.Commissioners believe Bender will make a seamless transition to county administrator.“The county is very pleased with how the county selection process went,” Halcovage said.He thanked the applicants and the committee.“We know what a difficult task we asked them to do and they did it in a very deliberate, expeditious and professional manner,” Halcovage said.He had good words for Bender, who he said “stepped right into this position and the county did not miss a beat. I have no doubt that he will continue the professionalism that he has exhibited throughout his career as a Schuylkill County employee and especially that demonstrated as Interim County Administrator.”Staudenmeier said he has had the “pleasure of working with Gary Bender, both in the private sector and the public sector. He brings an extensive background to the table and will serve the county well as our new administrator. Myself, Commissioner Halcovage and Commissioner Hess, as well as our entire leadership team, look forward to working with Gary in making Schuylkill County government a true asset to our constituents and continue to strive to better serve the people of Schuylkill County.”Hess said “We as a county are very fortunate for all the outstanding leadership that came forward to apply for the position of county administrator and went through the vetting process. We thank each and every one of them for stepping up. Mr. Bender brings to the position many years of knowledge, experience and continuity of how Schuylkill County government operates.”Bender has broad experience in county government. Since 2006, he’s been a grant writer, demolition coordinator, Community Development Block Grant compliance officer, director of Community Development & Central Services, and interim county administrator.Bender has been a supervisor in Porter Township since 2002 and is the owner/operator of Stoney Mountain Springs since 1988.