PARIS – The Paris Board of Selectmen on Monday announced that Sharon Jackson of Oxford will serve as the new town manager.

Jackson beat out at least 32 other candidates for the position, which has been open since former Town Manager Steve McAllister left Nov. 11.

Selectmen said virtually nothing about their reasons for selecting Jackson, but shook her hand in turn after her hiring was announced by Chairman Bill Merrill.

“I’m very excited to be going to Paris,” Jackson said when reached at home later that evening. She said she is eager to meet the town’s employees and begin working with the residents.

“I feel that I can hit the ground running,” she said. “I’ve been in the Oxford Hills area for 23 years, and I did spend nine years on the school board.”

Jackson also has served as the town of Oxford’s finance clerk for eight years, she said, and twice filled the role of interim town manager there. The Oxford Board of Selectmen passed over Jackson in September and named Michael Chammings as Oxford town manager.

Neither Bill Merrill nor Paris Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Bruce Hanson could be reached for comment after Monday’s meeting. During the meeting, Merrill said Jackson will begin working for the town on Jan. 3.

No mention was was made of her salary. The board voted 5-0 to accept an “agreement” before announcing Jackson had been hired, but did not clarify whether the agreement was Jackson’s contract.

Merrill has in the past declined to comment on the town manager search. While interim Town Manager Elisa Whiteley said there were 32 applicants, Merrill would say only that they were from the United States.

The board began advertising the town manager position Oct. 4 and accepted applications until Nov. 5. Five meetings were held in executive session, as allowed by state law, while the board narrowed the field of candidates and conducted interviews. The last meeting in executive session was held Dec. 8.

On Monday, Steve MacAllister was honored for his service and given a small desk clock before Jackson was announced as the new town manager.