The Lee County Board of Education has chosen its superintendent.

The board announced on Tuesday that it had selected Dr. James “Mac” McCoy to fill the vacant position.

Butler County Schools Superintendent Darren Douthitt was among the candidates interviewed for the position. Douthitt, who has held the role of Butler County’s superintendent since 2010, previously served as the assistant superintendent for Lee County Schools.

The board voted 4-3 in favor of McCoy.

“I was impressed with his honesty, his straight-forwardness and his answers seemed to come from the heart,” board member Larry Boswell told the Opelika-Auburn News. “His mentioning being very concerned about jobs also was another strength in my eyes.”

McCoy has served as superintendent for Commerce City Schools in Georgia since 2005. He was previously principal for Georgia’s Buford City Schools, Gainesville City Schools, Carrollton City Schools and Henry County Schools.