PICKENS — She served as a city intern for a year, and for the past six months, she has served as assistant administrator; but on Monday, Sept. 14, Katherine Brackett will find out if she has the job of administrator.

City Council will vote on her contract that night, an action that will also be considered a six-month evaluation of her performance.

When former city administrator Chris Eldridge resigned to take a similar position in Georgetown, the city named retired Central administrator Herb Thompson interim administrator so Brackett could learn practical experience from him.

“Herb has been unbelievable,” Brackett said. “He’s highly qualified and experienced. He’s taught me stuff you can’t learn in school, and he’s taught me how to pinch pennies.”

Brackett, who has a master’s degree in public administration from Clemson University, said the experience she’s gained over the past year and a half, and Thompson’s tutelage, have prepared her for the task and that she definitely feels comfortable and ready to take on the job of running the city’s government.

Born in Atlanta, Ga. and raised in Maine, Brackett said that while she wasn’t from around here, she has made great strides to meet a lot of different people in the community, working with the senior citizens, Historical Society, the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Business Association. She is also a member of the Pickens Rotary Club.

Brackett said she has always had an interest in politics and government. She said she considered a law career early one but was glad she didn’t take that route.

“I plan to spend the rest of my life in this state,” she said, calling government work an “interesting and unique career.”

If council signs off on her contract, Brackett said her main goals will be resolve the city’s water plant issue, economic development, streetscaping the remainder of West Main Street, and promoting the city.

“Pickens has so much potential,” she said.