Council picks Barrett for Lewiston administrator job

LEWISTON — Former Bangor City Manager Ed Barrett will be Lewiston's next city administrator, the City Council decided Tuesday.

Councilors met behind closed doors for an hour before their regular meeting, then came back into public session to announce their choice.

Barrett, a 22-year veteran of Maine municipal government, got the nod over Lewiston acting City Administrator Phil Nadeau, who has served as deputy city administrator since 1999.

Barrett, attending Tuesday night's council meeting, said he will take over the Lewiston job Jan. 11.

"There are a lot of people in Bangor that I really love, so that is the hard part, but I'm looking forward to Lewiston," Barrett said. "My first job there is going to be to listen and to learn."

Barrett will be on hand at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday for a press conference to discuss the new job.

He will replace Jim Bennett in the job. Councilors voted to buy out Bennett's contract in July and began looking for his replacement right away. A search committee whittled a stack of resumes from more than 40 to three candidates — Nadeau, former Gardiner Town Manager Jeffrey Kobrock and former Falmouth Manager Doug Harris.

Councilors added Barrett to the list in November and quickly settled on him and Nadeau as their top choices. They interviewed both men on Nov. 18, then had city staff verify the candidates' resumes.

Barrett has been involved in local government in Maine since
1988, when he left Wichita Falls, Texas, to take the Bangor manager's
job. He has degrees in political science.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest

Winterbear98's picture

Congratulations to the

Congratulations to the citizens of Lewiston; you just hit a home run!

Gary52's picture
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I had high hopes the

I had high hopes the councilors would select Ed Barrett, but I had my doubts. I'm extremely pleased that they made this choice.

vpmrlbs@hotmail.com's picture

Lewiston citizens will not

Lewiston citizens will not be disappointed in Ed Barrett. Best. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer, larrytdoughty@yahoo.com, www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty/

tron's picture

If he is so amazing, why did

If he is so amazing, why did Bangor get rid of him?

LewistonNative...'s picture
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My guess is that after 22

My guess is that after 22 years they thought it was time to move on. I am not entirely positive, but he must have been doing something right to stick around for so long. Either way I like the choice, which is one of the very few things I actually agree with the soon to be former council.

Robert61's picture

tron, give it a rest. We all

tron, give it a rest. We all know you're just upset because for the past 3 months you've been bragging on this blog that we would be hiring someone else and the choice had already been made - hows it feel now?

DonaldR's picture

We have numerous family

We have numerous family members in the Bangor area that think Barrett nearly walks on water, so this is an AMAZING decision on the part of council! Just look at the incredible improvements this man was party of .

I'm impressed the council chose him; I was expecting them to choose Nadeau, simply because of his acting status.

Congratulations to the citizens of Lewiston; you just hit a home run!

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