Brief: Washington County Administrator Jim Schug Will Retire In January

Long-time Jim Schug has announced that he will retire in late January.

Schug, a Stillwater resident, who just passed his 25-year milestone as a Washington County employee, joined the county workforce as the community services director, before being named county administrator in 1994.

In an announcement to county employees this afternoon, Schug said that he has been contemplating retiring for several months, and recently shared his plans with county commissioners.

"I have told the commissioners that the thing of which I am most proud in my tenure as county administrator is the quality, experience and character of all of you, the group that will carry this organization forward to the next level of excellence,” Schug wrote in his letter to employees. “I have assured them, and they agree, that you are the right people to make that happen."

Schug has worked in county government for more than 37 years in Crow Wing, Redwood and Washington counties. He began his career as a social worker and then moved into human services administration before holding down his position in general government administration.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota and a master of business administration from the University of St. Thomas.

He and his wife Connie live in Stillwater and have three adult daughters and five grandchildren.

Schug is involved in a variety of community activities and organizations including the Board of Directors of Lakeview Health System, the Stillwater Rotary Club, the Tozer Foundation Board, the Minnesota Association of County Administrators, the Minnesota City/County Management Association and the International City/County Management Association.