Rochester Town Administrator Mike McCue is among three finalists seeking to become Fairhaven's first town administrator.

McCue, along with Whitman Assistant Town Manager Gregory Enos and Portland, Maine City Manager Mark Rees, were named at Fairhaven's Nov. 23 Selectmen meeting.

The former Avon town administrator was hired in June 2014, taking over for Rich LaCamera who retired. He assumed the role full time on Aug. 1, 2014.

McCue was one of 24 people who applied for the new Fairhaven position. Members of the Town Administrator Screening Committee whittled that number to a field of seven before unanimously settling on the finalists.

McCue said the possibility to advance his career motivated him to apply.

“You never know when such an opportunity will come up, so I decided to take a hard look at it,” he said. “I see it as an opportunity to advance my career professionally.”

Fairhaven’s population of approximately 15,800 puts it in a different league than Avon and Rochester with populations of 4,300 and 5,200, respectively.

Selectmen Chair Richard Nunes said McCue notified him that he was a finalist about one week ago.

Nunes said since McCue arrived in Rochester he’s been a welcome presence.

“He’s been doing a good job, and if he gets the Fairhaven job he will be missed,” Nunes said.

Fairhaven Selectmen are scheduled to interview the finalists Saturday, Dec. 5 starting at 9 a.m. in Town Hall.

McCue was also a finalist for the position of North Attleboro’s town administrator in August. Currently, he resides in Mansfield, and working in neighboring North Attleboro would have allowed him more time to spend with his family.

“I fully enjoy working in Rochester. The people and the location are great,” McCue said. “This in no means is an effort to leave Rochester for any other reason than possible career purposes.”

McCue’s previous experience includes working as the economic development and grants officer in Walpole from 2004 to 2006. He graduated from Bridgewater State College in 2002 with a master’s degree in government and a minor in economic development.

Before launching his career in municipal government, McCue worked as a senior security administrator for U.S. Department of Defense private contractor Draper Laboratory from 1989 to 2004.