Davidson names new town manager

James “Jamie” Justice, assistant town manager in Matthews, has been appointed as town manager of Davidson, the town announced Monday.

Justice will replace Leamon Brice, who is retiring after 25 years in the post. His retirement is effective at the end of this year.

The move fills one of two looming vacancies in top positions in Davidson. Earlier this month, City Attorney Rick Kline, 68, announced he was retiring after serving the town since 1976.

“Davidson’s Commissioners and I have worked diligently in a national search environment to find the right person to succeed Leamon Brice as town manager,” Mayor John Woods said in a news release. “Our community has grown steadily, and at times dramatically, in the past 25 years, and we are confident Jamie is the right choice to lead us in a time when more population growth is expected. We very much appreciate Leamon’s service to our town.”

Justice has served as the assistant town manager of Matthews since 2008. Before that, he was town manager in Mooresville and Troy.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 9:35 PM with the headline "Davidson names new town manager."