Wayne County administrator Herron retires after nearly 32 years

Wayne County Administrator Patrick Herron will retire after nearly 32 years of public service, concluding a career defined by fiscal stewardship, steady operational leadership and a behind-the-scenes commitment to helping county offices deliver reliable services to residents.

Herron joined Wayne County July 5, 1994, bringing an accounting background and experience as a controller in the private sector. His core principles of accounting translated well — budgets, financial reporting and fiscal controls — but county government required a different approach.

“Money’s money, and budgets are budgets,” he said. “The difference is you’re working with one county, but you have 16 elected officials and several agencies sharing out of the same pot of money. The process is different, but the overall concept — fiscal control and financial reporting — is the same.”

Throughout his tenure Herron emphasized conservative budgeting and long-range planning, noting Wayne County has managed operations and major projects without a county sales tax increase since 1991.

“I’m proud to have been a public servant to work for Wayne County and the citizens of Wayne County,” Herron said. “The fact that we’ve been fiscally responsible — managing with the money we have — matters. The county, as an entity, has been able to achieve the goal of not raising taxes in that time frame.”

Herron administered several milestone projects and programs supported through the commissioners’ office including construction of the Wayne County Municipal Court facility, which consolidated court operations after years of leasing space, and preservation work on the historic Wayne County Courthouse exterior.

“The courthouse was a long-term project that I really wanted to accomplish,” Herron said. “It’s historic; it needs to be preserved. It took a while to raise the funds, but it should be in good shape for a long time.”

Herron pioneered investments in county services including the Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.

“I’m very, very proud of the dog shelter that we have,” he said. “It’s one of the accomplishments that stands out to me because it reflects the kind of county we want to be — investing in a facility that serves the public well and operates the right way.”

Herron also played a key role in establishing the Wayne County Employee Wellness Clinic, an initiative designed to improve access to basic health services for county, township and village employees, among others, while reducing long-term health care costs. By offering select lab services and routine care in-house, the county was able to address health concerns earlier and limit reliance on more expensive external providers, creating both health and financial benefits.

Herron described his leadership style as steady, team-oriented and focused on supporting the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, rather than directing policy as an elected official.

“I’m not an elected official; I don’t vote on anything,” Herron said. “My job is to help the commissioners perform their functions. I view myself as a facilitator, making sure the office functions in an appropriate manner so they can do what they need to do.”

He said he prioritized accessibility and consistency in the workplace, particularly during staffing challenges, with an expectation that leadership and staff alike step in where needed to keep service levels stable.

“We have good people who work here,” Herron said. “When there’s an issue, we take a team approach and work through it, and if we’ve got to answer the phones, we answer the phones.”

For Herron, public service required a deliberate mindset, especially coming from the private sector.

“The most challenging part for me was transitioning from a private business mindset to a government mindset,” he said. “You don’t beat the system. You learn how to work within the system to improve things and make the process better. Many processes residents experience as ‘red tape’ are often designed as checks and balances, reflecting the responsibility of managing public resources.”

As he steps away from county administration, Herron plans to devote more time to family and recreation including travel, time with his grandchildren and playing music with his band.

Looking back, Herron said he does not measure his career by personal legacy within government but by whether he helped leave county operations steady and sustainable for the future.

“My impact on the county is minimal, and that’s as it should be,” he said. “The county is going to continue. My legacy is with my family.”

Assistant Administrator Judy Becker will be promoted to administrator Feb. 1, 2026.

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.