After nine months as Human Resources Director Minnie Hightower is leaving her position with Orange County. The reasons for her leaving are mixed. Hightower indicated one reason was a negative experience her daughter had at a local business in town. Hightower said the community embracement of her receiving the position of Human Resources Director was not as accepting as she wanted, and her daughter was accosted recently at Walmart by a county employee who used a racial slur. Hightower confided those are not the kind of people she wants to work with, but added there are great people here, good leadership, and believes Judge Carlton is going to do a bang up job. Hightower admitted, “I’m just not as thick skinned as some of those.”
Her selection to be the new head of what was the Personnel Department at the courthouse earlier this year was not unanimous among the Commissioners Court. Hightower stated she has felt opposition from certain elected officials since her appointment. Hightower related how one elected official told her that he did not vote for her to be the new director and let Hightower know he did appreciate her coming in as an outsider. Another elected official who worked closely with Hightower’s office said the same sentiment according to Hightower.
She came to Orange County from Mississippi, and Hightower is pleased to say she has been given an excellent job offer that will allow her to return there. Hightower will be working in an area that she is passionate about for a firm called Lane Manufacturing and will be going back at the end of the month. Hightower’s last day as Human Resources Director will be October 23.
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