Kenneth Wilson

Kenneth N. Wilson was appointed County Administrator in January 2015. As County Administrator, the highest unelected post in county government, Mr. Wilson leads 15 county agencies with more than 1,400 employees and oversees the county’s annual $2.2 billion budgeting process for 35 agencies to ensure Franklin County remains one of the finest, best-governed counties in the nation. Mr. Wilson was hired in 2005 as Director of the County's Office of Management and Budget.  In 2010, Mr. Wilson was elevated to the role of Deputy County Administrator for Resource Management, overseeing several agencies including Job and Family Services, the County's largest social service agency.  

Before joining the County team, Mr. Wilson was a Director of Policy for the Ohio Senate Minority Caucus. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts from James Madison College at Michigan State University, where he majored in Public Affairs, Metropolitan Studies, and Business. Mr. Wilson is a trailblazing leader in Public Administration, making history as the first African American to serve as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Deputy County Administrator and County Administrator for Franklin County, Ohio. Additionally, Mr. Wilson served as the first African American President and Immediate Past-President of the National Association of County Administrators. 

Mr. Wilson was recently elected to the Franklin County Democratic Party Executive Committee, serves on the National Forum for Black Public Administrators Board of Directors and Marketing and Communications Committee; Kappa Alpha Psi Columbus Alumni Chapter; Smart Columbus Board of Directors; Ohio City/County Management Association; North Market New Community Authority Board; Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio; Greater Columbus Sports Commission; Experience Columbus Executive Committee; Ohio University Leadership, and Public Affairs Advisory Committee; designee for the Franklin County Investment Advisory Board and Franklin County Emergency Management Agency Executive Committee.  Mr. Wilson was appointed to serve as Vice Chair of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Health Policy Steering Committee, Vice-Chair of the NACo Healthy Counties Innovation Council and continues to serve as a dedicated member of the NACo Programs and Services Standing Committee, NACo Large Urban County Caucus, NACo International Economic Development Innovation Council and is recognized as an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager.

He resides in Grove City, Ohio and is devoted to his wife Reesie and daughters Kala and Kamya.