On Monday, we learned that Covington's longtime city manager, Steve Horton, wants to work one more year and then step down.

On Wednesday, we reported that Newton County government is also losing a voice of experience, with the news that County Administrator John Middleton has resigned. He's been on the job for more than a decade and has helped the county cope with the severe budget constraints that have come with the financial free-fall of the past few years.
He's been asked to stay on through December, and that's a good move by the county.

The upcoming departures of Middleton and Horton mark profound change in local government bureaucracy leadership. Leadership is also changing in Social Circle, where Mayor Jim Burgess has announced he will not seek re-election this fall after 14 years in service.

Their collective voices of experience will be missed.