Exclusive: Clay Jones will be D'Iberville's next city manager

D'IBERVILLE -- Assistant Police Chief Clay Jones will have a new title after he was hired Tuesday as the next city manager upon the retirement of Bobby Eleuterius in June.

Jones thanked the mayor and council after they unanimously voted to give him the job and said, "I promise I won't embarrass you."

Mayor Rusty Quave said the city wanted to promote from within. Jones was hired under a one-year contract until the 2017 municipal election is over and at that time the new council can take applications for city manager from Jones and others interested in the job.

"His performance has been excellent," Quave said.

After Eleuterius announced he would retire in June after three years as city manager, the council began searching for his replacement.

In a press release, Quave said, "The consensus was to promote from within, to insure the current path of our city was maintained. We wanted a proven leader, with both governmental and private business experience."

Councilman Henry Toncrey said, "We felt like this was the way to go and we felt he is a really good person."

Jones will take the helm with the city in good financial health, particularly after the opening of the Scarlet Pearl Casino, and poised for strong growth, Quave said.

Jones will begin working with Eleuterius immediately and will become city manager June 1.

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 8:09 PM with the headline "Exclusive: Clay Jones will be D'Iberville's next city manager ."