Davis appoints County Clerk Doug Smith to administrator; attorney William Speros tapped as solicitor

Erie County Executive-elect Brenton Davis on Thursday announced two key appointments to his administration.

The first was Doug Smith to the position of director of administration. Smith, who's served 19 years as county clerk, will replace Gary Lee, who was appointed by County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper in 2014.

Smith, who's tenure as county clerk included the supervision of 38 elections and the passage of 19 county budgets, will now be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of county government.

"I chose Doug due to his extensive experience in county government and also for his intricate knowledge of (county) council," Davis said at a news conference at the Erie law firm of MacDonald Illig, on 100 State St.

"I think we're going to complement each other well with our methods and ways of thinking and also the differences in energy — and I would say, negotiation tactics."

Davis, a Republican, also praised Smith's tendency to be apolitical.

"That's the direction my administration aims to go — right in the middle, apolitical and working very hard to be inclusive across all entities," Davis said.

Smith, 62, who was nearing retirement, said he was excited for the challenge.

"I saw this opportunity as one that would allow me to use my gifts to help Brenton's administration, cross bridges and work with other people," Smith said. "I'm going to bring all the experience that I've been able to get with County Council to help move the county forward."

Davis' second appointment was William Speros to the position of county solicitor.

Speros, an attorney with MacDonald Illig will replace Richard Perhacs, who was appointed by Dahlkemper in 2018.

The solicitor provides counsel to the county.

"County Executive-elect Davis talked a lot about having an apolitical administration and my law firm views this the same way," said Speros, 50. "This is not a political appointment. We're a lawyer for Erie County. And we're here to provide good council and outstanding service to Brent Davis's administration and the citizens of this county."

Speros, a Millcreek resident and U.S. Air Force veteran, previously worked at the Washington D.C.-based firms of Fried Frank and Arnold & Porter and also served as an adjunct professor of law at George Washington University.

Prior to joining MacDonald Illig, Speros served as in-house counsel for the human capital management company ADP, splitting time between Erie and ADP offices in Atlanta.

He was selected last month to join Davis' transition team to provide legal counsel.

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Davis said both Smith and Speros will place a crucial role in his administration and provide "the tools and the gauges necessary to govern Erie County lawfully, legally and ethically."

He added that his team started a website — go.eriecomeback.com — as a place for constituent feedback on county government, and as a place for interested county government job seekers to send their resumes.

"I have close to 41 appointments coming up in the new year," Davis said.

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County Executive-elect Brenton Davis announces two key appointments