Profile on Jefferson County's potential new CFO

The man Jefferson County Commissioners plan to hire for $180,000 is getting high marks. George Tablack was a county administrator for 18 years in Mahoning County, Ohio. Tablack's job was eliminated in 2011. Jefferson County Manager Tony Petelos, who plans to hire Tablack, believes he is needed to help Jefferson County through its tough economic times.

"They were in a situation they had to reduce staff. They had to do major budget cuts and he was at the forefront of that," Petelos said.

Jefferson County is in the middle of bankruptcy and is facing more layoffs and service cuts. Petelos says Tablack can help ease the transition.

"Working with the private sector, working with government sector. He is very familiar with the bond market. We are in huge mess because of our bankruptcy," Petelos said.

In 2010, Tablack testified before a grand jury which lead to the indictments of a major real estate developer and county officials including a county commissioners. One Mahoning County Commissioner says Tablack's character is not in question.

"George is not only book smart but he has street sense. On thing about him he is honesty and integrity is first and foremost with George. He could smell corruption a mile off," Anthony Trafficanti, Mahoning County Commissioner, said.

If the Jefferson County Commission votes to allow Petelos to hire Tablack, the Ohio administrator could be on the job by the end of the month.

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