“I’m excited to be here,” Hemstreet, 41, told supervisors Tuesday. “I m excited to come back to a place I grew up. I sincerely hope I can meet all your expectations.”
While at Miami Beach, Hemstreet, a native of Northern Virginia and a graduate of James Madison University, also served as assistant director of the city’s redevelopment agency since 2005. From 2001 to 2005, he was the city’s capital improvement projects office director. Hemstreet also formerly held positions at the Florida cities of Tamarac and Hollywood.
"He is very well qualified for this appointment and ready to tackle the many challenges that the county faces, particularly the FY 11 budget,” Loudoun Chairman Scott York (I-at large) said in a statement.
As head of a workforce of more than 3,000 and an annual budget of at least $1.4 billion, Hemstreet will likely face numerous and immediate challenges as the county government struggles through another tough budget season early next year.
In September, it was learned that county budget planners are already projecting a spending gap next year of $157 million mostly due to flat revenues and increased spending on the school system. One of Hemstreet’s first tasks at hand will be to make recommendations to supervisors on how that money should be made up. In September, some supervisors said cuts to county departments appear likely.
Hemstreet will assume his new position on Dec. 7, which happens to be the day Pearl Harbor was attacked Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) pointed out.
“I hope that is not significant,” Burton jokingly added.
FYI