Interim County Administrator Fred E. Marquis

The County Administrator manages the business of county government.

Fred E. Marquis serves Pinellas County as the interim county administrator. Mr. Marquis, the Pinellas County administrator for 21 years, was called out of retirement on Sept. 25, 2007. The appointment became effective Oct. 1, 2007.

Faced with filling the administrator position on an interim basis while conducting a search for a permanent administrator, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to ask Mr. Marquis to return to his former position.  He served as Pinellas County administrator from 1979 to 2000 after rising through county ranks. 

As testimony to the appreciation for his service, the County Commission surprised Mr. Marquis after his retirement in 2000 by renaming the Pinellas Trail the Fred E. Marquis Pinellas Trail.

Mr. Marquis’ career with Pinellas County began in 1970 in the Planning Department. He moved on to become an assistant county administrator before being selected as county administrator. Prior to joining Pinellas County government, Mr. Marquis worked for the city of St. Petersburg as a senior planner from 1968 to 1979. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Florida and his master’s degree in urban planning from Florida State University.

A retired Army major general, Mr. Marquis has an accomplished military career. He was commissioned in the Reserves through the ROTC while attending the University of Florida. As second lieutenant, Mr. Marquis spent four years on active duty, which included service in Vietnam. He retired in 1999. During Operation Desert Storm, he served in the Pentagon as a member of the Army general staff.

Since his 2000 retirement from Pinellas County, Mr. Marquis and his wife, Suzanne, have led missionary teams to Central America. Mr. Marquis has put that work on hold to temporarily manage the business of Pinellas County government.

The county administrator serves the citizens of the county as it applies to the policies and decisions of the Board of County Commissioners. Five assistant county administrators and the director of Utilities report to the administrator. In all, the administrator is responsible for the operations of the departments that fall under the BCC, the supervision of department directors and approximately 2,755 employees.

Mr. Marquis lives with his wife in Trinity. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.