Theodore J. Sophocleus, the former Anne Arundel County councilman who lost his bid for county executive last month, was appointed to a $51,000-a-year county job yesterday.
State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee named the 55-year-old pharmacist to serve as his administrative officer, filling the job left open when Alvin J. Arnett was dismissed last July.
The position involves supervising personnel matters and the office's $3.6 million budget. The county-funded office has 60 employees, including 30 prosecutors.
Mr. Weathersbee, a Democrat who was re-elected last month after a heated campaign, said he hired Mr. Sophocleus, also a Democrat, for his credentials and because he trusts him, not because of his political background.
He said Mr. Sophocleus has several qualifications he considers valuable, including having managed a drugstore, having been a manager for a chain of retail pharmacies and having worked on county budgets as a two-term member of the County Council.
"I just feel very fortunate that he's available," said Mr. Weathersbee.
L Mr. Sophocleus also said his qualifications won him the job.
"I look at what needs to be done here, and I know that I have the credentials to do it," he said.
In the early 1970s, Mr. Sophocleus managed drugstores in Annapolis, Baltimore and Ellicott City for the 104-outlet Read's chain.
He transferred to the company's headquarters in 1974 to implement a consultant's efficiency study.
Two years later, he became director of training and professional services.
He moved to Texas in 1977, after a small pharmacy chain in
Corpus Christi hired him to be its president. Three years later, he returned to Linthicum and bought his own pharmacy on Hammonds Ferry Road.
He was elected to the County Council in 1982 and served two terms before winning the Democratic nomination for county executive in 1990. He lost that race to Robert R. Neall.
Last year, Gov. William Donald Schaefer appointed him to fill the House of Delegates seat that became open when Tyras S. Athey was appointed Maryland's secretary of state.
Anne Arundel County Executive John G. Gary, who defeated Mr. Sophocleus last month, said yesterday that he had no objection to the appointment.
"There's no way you can say it's not a political appointment, but as long as he's qualified to do the job, I don't see what difference his politics make," Mr. Gary said.
Mr. Sophocleus, who began his duties yesterday, replaces Mr. Arnett, a former CSX Railroad vice president.
Mr. Weathersbee fired Mr. Arnett July 13, after prosecutors learned that he had taken $12,500 from an office checking
account.
Mr. Arnett pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to misappropriation of funds stemming from the theft.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 27 by Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Raymond G. Thieme Jr.