Former Clayton County county manager Wade Starr is the new executive director of the Clayton County Housing Authority. Starr, 60, was given a three-year contract to run the agency last week in a 3-2 vote by the housing authority board. Starr became a consultant to the housing board in February, shortly after losing his county manager’s job. The previous executive director of the housing authority, Linda Valentine, retired from the position in March. She earned $71,000 with an addition $20,000 in benefits. Starr will get $70,000 a year and no benefits. His salary will jump to $77,000 a year if his contract is renewed another three years. Starr was fired from the county manager’s job by the new administration, led by commission chairman Jeff Turner, as part of efforts to overhaul county government.

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A pedestrian walks by the Mall West End in Atlanta on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Developers BRP Cos. and the Prusik Group are pursuing permits to begin work on the rundown shopping center, according to state paperwork filed Tuesday. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com