Attleboro Mayor Picked For Mansfield Town Manager Opening

MANSFIELD, MA — The search for Mansfield's next town manager is over.

The selectmen voted to name outgoing Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas as the new town manager, pending contract negotiations. Dumas is leaving office after 14 years as mayor. His term ends at the end of the month.

Dumas succeeds Bill Ross who left the position about nine months ago for reasons never publicly announced.

Selectman Steve Schoonveld was the only selectman to vote for a different candidate, opting to back Mansfield Finance Committee Chairman Walter Wilk. Schoonveld said Wilk provided a business background that the other candidates did not and he considered economic development to be priority number one.

Following the 4-1 vote, Schoonveld declined an offer to revote as part of a show of unity.

"I think my focus is on economic development. I've seen the numbers and they are painful," Schoonveld said after the vote.

Former Stoughton Town Manager Michael Hartman was also interviewed by the board.

Dumas comes to Mansfield following an election defeat to state Rep. Paul Heroux. He told the board that has no plans to run for elected office again, declaring that part of his life over. On the switch from mayor to town manager, Dumas says he understands the differences in his new position.

"I’m not looking to be the mayor of Mansfield. I am very well aware of the responsibilities here. It’s my job to carry out the goals and objectives of the five of you," Dumas told the board.

Dumas, who was a late submission to the opening, said he can hit the ground running because of his experience in municipal government and familiarity with state and local government. He added that he would be available to town employee at any time of the day, including after town business hours.

"No municipal department should be afraid to call my number at any time. They should know that I’ll have their back. Just because the doors are closed does not mean the town manager’s hours are finished," Dumas said.

Board members said Dumas was the strongest of a strong field, calling him well spoken and praising his wide-range of experience from his time as a mayor. Selectman Frank DelVecchio noted that Dumas was the only candidate to say that it would be a priority of his to sit down with the selectmen to get their goals and priorities.

Dumas' new job will be made official once both sides agree on a contract. The previous town manager's salary $172,784.19, which included an $8,010.84 stipend for being the manager of Mansfield Municipal Electric Department.

Dumas' term as the mayor of Attleboro wraps up at the end of the month. Heroux gets sworn in Jan. 2.

As stipulated in the Mansfield Town Charter, Dumas must move to town within a year of starting the new job.

Image Credit: Dan Libon