Fort Wright has selected former city administrative officer Jill Cain Bailey to return to the position after a competitive search for the city's top administrative job.
The hiring follows a recruitment process that attracted about 50 applicants, according to a community announcement. City officials interviewed eight candidates before advancing two finalists to a second round that included city council members and department heads from police, fire and public works.
Bailey previously served as Fort Wright's city administrative officer from May 2018 through August 2026. Before that, she spent about 23 years as city administrative officer in Taylor Mill, giving her more than 31 years of municipal management experience.
"Jill's proven track record
of success and familiarity with our organization made her an outstanding candidate," Mayor Dave Hatter said. "After a very competitive selection process, there was unanimous agreement that she was the right person for this role. Her knowledge of our operations, her commitment to public service, and her proven leadership make her exceptionally well-qualified."
As city administrative officer, Bailey will oversee daily city operations, provide leadership to municipal departments and help implement policies established by the mayor and city council.
"Apparently, I'm just not very good at retirement," Bailey said. "After spending more than 31 years in municipal government, I realized how much I missed the people, the challenges, the pace, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day. Public service has always been more than a career to me. It's something I genuinely enjoy, and I'm excited to return to Fort Wright."
Hatter said the city also expects to save about $15,000 annually in insurance premiums because Bailey's health insurance is covered through the County Employees Retirement System, according to the announcement.
Bailey is scheduled to begin her new role Oct. 14.
This story was produced with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jill Bailey returns to lead Fort Wright city operations
