County Administration
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners relies on a County Administrator and three Deputy County Administrators to run the day-to-day operations of the county.
Kenneth N. Wilson - County Administrator
Kenneth N. Wilson was appointed to the position of county administrator in January 2015. As county administrator, the highest unelected post in county government, Mr. Wilson leads 14 county agencies with more than 1,400 employees and oversees the county’s annual $ 2.5 billion budgeting process for 35 agencies to ensure Franklin County remains one of the finest, best-governed counties in the nation. He also directly supervises the Department of Economic Development and Planning, Public Affairs, and the Economic Engagement & Community Development. Mr. Wilson was hired in 2005 as director for the county’s Office of Management and Budget.
In 2010, Mr. Wilson was elevated to the role of Deputy County Administrator for Resource Management, and previously oversaw other county agencies, including Job and Family Services, the county’s largest social service agency.
Prior to joining the county team, Mr. Wilson served as the director of policy for the Ohio Senate Minority Caucus. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Ohio University and a B.A. from James Madison College at Michigan State University, where he majored in Public Affairs, Metropolitan Studies, and Business.
He serves as president of the National Association of County Administrators, vice chair of the National Association of Counties (NACo), vice chair of the Ohio City/County Management Association, and is a member of the NACo International Economic Development Task Force.
In addition, he holds positions with the National Association of Counties Health Steering Policy Committee, Healthy Counties Initiative Advisory Board, NACo Programs and Services Standing Committee, NACo's Large Urban County Caucus, the Ohio University Leadership and Public Affairs Advisory Committee, the United Way of Central Ohio board, Economic Mobility Coalition, Confluence Community Authority NCA, Hickory Chase Community Authority, Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, Greater Columbus Sports Commission, Future Ready Five, Experience Columbus, North Market Mixed-Use Project New Community Authority and is the designee for the Franklin County Investment Advisory Board and the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency.
He also previously served as president of the County Administrators Association of Ohio.
Senior Executive Assistant: Carla Wallace
Tel: 614-525-4132
Email: cmwallac@franklincountyohio.gov
Kris Long, Esq. - Deputy County Administrator
Deputy County Administrator Long oversees Public Facilities Management, Human Resources, Fleet, Purchasing, Sanitary Engineering, the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners, the Government Affairs and Ethics Director, and is the commissioners’ representative on the Board of Revisions, amongst additional responsibilities. Ms. Long previously worked in the Ohio Senate and in the Governor’s office. She was Governor Ted Strickland’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislation and Operations, and held the positions of Legislative Director and Executive Assistant for Public Safety and Criminal Justice and the Bureau of Workers Compensation.
Prior to joining the Governor’s administration, she was Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel to the Ohio Senate Minority Caucus. Ms. Long moved to Ohio after working in private practice in Michigan. She has non-profit and management experience, having served on the Ohio State Bar Association Board of Governors and the Ohio Humanities Council, and having previously served as President of the Community Refugee and Immigration Services Board. Ms. Long is a graduate of Hope College in Holland, Michigan, earned her law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, and is admitted to the Bar in Ohio and Michigan.
Executive Assistant: Toya A. Williams
Tel: 614-525-4263
Email: ToyaWilliams@franklincountyohio.gov
Joy Bivens - Deputy County Administrator
Deputy County Administrator Bivens oversees the Board of Commissioners’ health and human services agencies and the Franklin County Department of Animal Care and Control (including the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center). The health and human services agencies include Job and Family Services (JFS), which is the county's largest agency and core social safety net, the Office on Aging, Child Support Enforcement, and Justice Policy and Programs. Ms. Bivens first joined Franklin County in 2004 as a JFS case manager before leaving to begin her own home healthcare administration agency. She returned to Franklin County in 2015 to serve as Chief Operating Officer for JFS and was appointed Director of the agency the following year.
Ms. Bivens holds leadership positions on the National Association of Counties Human Services and Education Policy Steering Committee and the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association. She also serves on numerous local boards and workgroups, including the Franklin County Community Based Correction Facility Governing Board, the Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board, and the Children of Incarcerated Parents Action Group. She previously served as an elected member of the Whitehall City School Board, as Vice President of the Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce, and as chair of the Board of OhioMeansJobs Columbus-Franklin County. Ms. Bivens is a graduate of Capital University.
Executive Assistant: Toya A. Williams
Tel: 614-525-4263
Email: ToyaWilliams@franklincountyohio.gov
Damika Withers - Deputy County Administrator
Deputy County Administrator Damika Withers oversees Economic Engagement & Community Development, Community Partnerships, Boards & Commissions, Purchasing, and Fleet Management. Ms. Withers previously served as the county's Chief Economic Equity and Inclusion Officer, where she led efforts to advance equitable economic opportunity and promote inclusive policies. She also served as Assistant Director of Support Services at the Franklin County Office on Aging, overseeing Adult Protective Services and the National Family Caregiver Support Program.
A public servant for over 24 years, Ms. Withers has held leadership roles across health and human services, as well as criminal justice, including at the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, where she helped strengthen service delivery through a racial equity lens. She currently serves on boards and participates in the National Association of Counties & International City/County Management Association’s Equity Officer Committees and is an alum of the African American Leadership Academy. Ms. Withers earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University and a Master of Public Administration from Ohio University. Her leadership has been recognized by Columbus Business First as a 2025 Diversity Champion; she was named a 2025 Faith Trailblazer Honoree by Kingdom Image Arts, and a 2024 Capital Commerce Catalyst by 614 Day.
Tel: 614-525-3662
Email: Emma.Engel1@franklincountyohio.gov
Brittany A. Razek - Clerk to the Board of Commissioners & Director of Community Appointments
Brittany A. Razek serves as the Clerk to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, managing all public meetings, preparing agendas, recording official meeting minutes, and documenting official actions taken by the Board. The Clerk’s Office coordinates the legislative process across all Commissioner agencies, elected offices, and additional county departments, oversees contract execution, and maintains all official records for the Board and County Administration.
As Director of Community Appointments, Ms. Razek also manages the full appointment process for over 45 boards and commissions, from candidate recruitment through onboarding and term support. The office also manages public records requests for all agencies under the Board of Commissioners and serves as the primary point of contact for resident communication with the Board.
Prior to joining the Board of Commissioners, Ms. Razek served as Director of the Prosecution Resources Unit in the Intake Division of the Office of Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. She oversaw the Mediation Program, assisted the Policy Counsel with the Theft Diversion programs, and managed all public records requests. Earlier in her career, Ms. Razek volunteered as a Diversity Workshop Leader and Facilitator through the National Coalition Building Institute. She holds a bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, as well as Sociology, from The Ohio State University, and a law degree from Capital University Law School.
Tel: 614-525-5387
Email: Brittany.Razek@franklincountyohio.gov
Contact Us
Get in touch with the Board
Deputy Clerk: Melissa K. Kohler
Tel: 614-525-5330
Email: Melissa.Kohler@franklincountyohio.gov
Deputy Clerk: Michael E. Ruehrmund
Tel: 614-525-5737
Email: Michael.Ruehrmund@franklincountyohio.gov
Administrative Secretary: Alicia Kingston
Tel: 614-525-4043
Email: aakingst@franklincountyohio.gov
Administrative Secretary: Sharon N. Lynch
Tel: 614-525-3322
Email: Sharon.Lynch@franklincountyohio.gov