Board confirms John Light as Rock County administrator after debate over process and tenure

The Rock County Board of Supervisors confirmed John Light as county administrator by a roll-call vote of 19 yes, 7 no and 3 absent at its February 2025 meeting.

The vote followed extended debate among supervisors about the staff committee’s selection process and concerns about the candidate’s average job tenure. Supervisor Schneider asked for a roll-call vote and said she could not support the nominee because of what she described as an average job tenure of four years over the past 20 years, and questioned why the candidate left several prior positions after relatively short periods.

Supervisor Mark Schneider, speaking before the vote, said the board had a responsibility to present candidates who demonstrated long-term commitment and argued that the selection committee should have forwarded a…