BREC narrows superintendent search to two candidates

The East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission narrowed its list of candidates for superintendent from six to two at a meeting this morning, with Carolyn McKnight-Bray and Stuart Johnston still in the running. McKnight-Bray is executive general manager of business development and procurement services for the city of Dallas, and Johnston is assistant secretary with the Office of State Parks in Baton Rouge. Kristi Williams, BREC communications director, says the agency intends to interview the two again next week before making a final decision at its meeting Thursday. Williams says the dates and times for the interviews have not yet been set, but they will be open to the public and held at BREC’s headquarters, 6201 Florida Blvd. Williams says the new superintendent will take over early next year. Superintendent Bill Palmer is stepping down after 32 years with the agency. “By contract, he’s here through Jan. 28,” Williams says, adding the hope is Palmer and his successor will have some time to collaborate. “We’d like for them to work together for a few days. But that’s an ideal situation. No one knows.”—Ian McGibboney