Ferzan Ahmed was apparently not Delaware County commissioners’ first choice as the county’s new administrator.

When job opening was first posted early in the year, Carl Geffken of Reading, Pennsylvania, was one of two finalists for the job — out of 30 resumes received by the county.

Geffken told The Gazette this week that he was offered the job but he and county officials could not come to terms.

Geffken said he was interviewed by Delaware County officials Feb. 16 and was offered the job on Feb. 17 by Dawn Huston, assistant county administrator and human resources director.

He said he was offered an annual salary of $120,000 and said he was told that, under the Ohio Revised Code, he wouldn’t be eligible for vacation until he had completed one full year of service.

Geffken said he countered the offer and then received an email from Huston that stated that “the board (of commissioners) does not counter. … We need to go our separate ways.”

Geffken said he was looking for something new. “I was looking for a move and a change,” he said. Geffken said he has since accepted a job in Arkansas.

The second finalist, Bradley Lutz of Ashville, told The Gazette that Delaware County did not extend a job offer to him.

The county human resources department then posted the job opening again early in March. The county announced that Ahmed had been named to the job on March 18. He will start on April 11. Ahmed’s starting annual salary will be $130,000.

After Ahmed’s appointment was announced, Commission President Barb Lewis said that the previous two finalists “did not work out, not a good fit for either candidate or the commission.”

Huston could not be reached for comment Thursday.

During commissioners’ search for a new administrator, Ahmed’s name had been mentioned, Lewis said. “His name did come up that he would be a great county administrator,” Lewis said last month.

Of the 13 resumes produced by the second posting, Ahmed’s resume was the only one reviewed by commissioners, Lewis said. “I don’t recall seeing any other resumes after the re-posting,” Lewis said on March 21.

Ahmed is currently employed as deputy director with the Ohio Department of Transportation, responsible for overseeing the daily operations of District 6 since 2011.

According to ODOT’s website, the district is made up of eight counties, including Delaware County, and is responsible for 4,921 lane miles of road and 1,557 bridges.

Ahmed will replace Tim Hansley, who retired in January.