Henrico County Manager Virgil Hazelett, who has helped guide the county with a firm and steady hand since 1992, announced at tonight's Board of Supervisors meeting that he will retire in January.

Hazelett has spent 40 years in the county's administration, beginning in 1972, when he was named Henrico's first traffic engineer. He is credited with strengthening the county's reputation as one of the most a fiscally sound localities in the nation and has helped Henrico weather difficult economic times without any layoffs or real estate tax increases.

Hazelett's retirement will complete a turnover of the six top appointed officials in the county's administration during a five-year period.

Deputy county managers George Drumwright and Angela Harper announced earlier this year that they would retire, joining three other longtime deputy managers – Harvey Hinson, Leon Johnson and Bob Pinkerton – who had retired since 2008.

Hazelett is Henrico's seventh county manager since the county instituted the form of government in 1934; all seven have been civil engineers.

Deputy County Manager for Administration John Vithoulkas, the county's former director of finance, is viewed as one possible candidate to replace Hazelett.