Newton County officials announced that Adam C. Mestres, the current County Administrator for Jefferson County, and Ronnie Cowan, Director of Human Resources for the City of Covington, have been named top candidates being considered for the position of County Manager.

Mestres has served as the Chief Municipal Judge for the town for Burnettown, South Carolina; Executive Director of Aiken Rescue in South Carolina; and a deputy sheriff for the Aiken County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Department. He holds a master’s in public administration and a bachelor’s in legal studies, both from Augusta State University.

Before attending law school at Georgia State University, Cowan served on the Covington Police force. He graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor's in 1982, and a law degree in 1993. After passing the Georgia State Bar, he was an attorney with the David A. Henderson law firm in Social Circle for one year, before joining the Strickland Law Firm in Social Circle.

The names of additional candidates will be released as they become available.