Diorio to hit the ground running as new county manager

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dena Diorio told Eyewitness News she's ready to hit the ground running.

Mecklenburg County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to hire the 51-year-old former county finance director.

Diorio becomes the first female county manager.

She said she wants to work to improve public trust and become an agent for change.

Diorio will oversee more than 5,000 employees and an annual budget of $1.6 billion.

Diorio's employment agreement with the county include an annual base salary is $228,000 plus an additional $15,000 in deferred income.

In addition, $6,700 per year in health insurance and $1,100 for a monthly expense allowance.

The New York native worked under Mayor Rudy Giuliani as director of city affairs.

She also served as director of policy and management for the City of Stamford, Conn.

She moved to Mecklenburg County in 2007 where she worked as finance director and named assistant county manager in May after the board voted to fire former County Manager Harry Jones.

Jones' firing came after a firestorm of controversy after hundreds of citizens were overcharged for their property taxes.

Diorio said she communicated with Jones by text and said he congratulated her on her new job.

Diorio officially takes on her new role Jan. 1.

Diorio was also in the running for the county manager job in Florence, Ariz., but said she quickly decided she wouldn't be the best fit for the job.