ROCHESTER — A town official from Fairhaven has been selected to be Rochester’s next town administrator.

Cameron Durant, who has served as Fairhaven’s human resources director since 2022, was the Rochester Select Board’s unanimous choice after a round of three interviews Monday, Aug. 12.

The Select Board also interviewed Joseph Lopes, former City Council President of New Bedford and Millville Select Board member Andrew Alward.

After the interviews, where Select Board members asked approximately 12 questions to each candidate, the board came to a consensus after a brief discussion that Durant was the right man for the job.

“I think they are all unique in their own way,” said Select Board member Adam Murphy. “None of them have been a town administrator so that is a unique challenge.”

“Three different candidates that have different attributes for the job,” said Select Board member Brad Morse. “[Durant] really impressed me. He seems like a quick learner.”

Murphy said he was impressed with Durant’s knowledge of town processes.

“I think the town of Fairhaven served him well as far as him … being exposed to a lot of issues that town has had,” said Murphy.

“His manner, his experience, he has dealt with a lot of financial stuff,” said Select Board member Paul Ciaburri of Durant.

Murphy said that it was important to select the candidate that fit the Rochester community the best.

During his interview, Durant said the town administrator role is “an important one” and “a fine balancing act” between elected officials and the community.

Durant also said that he had reviewed the 2023 Rochester Community Survey and believes that high property taxes are one of the main issues residents face.

“The rural charm needs to be protected at all costs,” said Durant.

Along with being Fairhaven’s human resource director, Durant is a father of three and served for five years on Fairhaven’s Board of Public Works.

“Municipal government is my passion,” said Durant. “It’s something that I have really enjoyed as a personal hobby, as a volunteer and now professionally.”

Durant also previously served as an operations manager for Amazon and ride share service Lyft, where he said he excelled due to his ability to manage and communicate with others.

He said that he believes the product of a town will be at its best when all of its employees are happy.

“Nobody is happier in their current capacity in the town of Fairhaven than I am,” said Durant. “I really enjoy going to work every single day. Every project that I have really excites me, but when I saw this opportunity … to have increased responsibility, I knew it was something that I couldn't pass up.”

Durant said that his diverse experience, in both the public and private sector, and his enthusiasm make him the ideal candidate for the position.

“He’s not just a human resources director [in Fairhaven],” said Morse of Durant. “He kind of has been pushed into every department it sounds like.”

As for the two other candidates who interviewed with the Select Board, Murphy said that Lopes’ experience as a City Council member of New Bedford is “a little different” than “the municipal experience we know.”

Morse said that Lopes was an “excellent candidate.” He said his only question was how much different is being a city councilor compared to working in a “small town” government.

Murphy said that Alward’s experience as a select board member of Millville, a town of just 4 square miles, is unique because the town has to face many financial challenges due to its small size.

“Andrew is very knowledgeable, from a small town,” said Morse. “He has faced all the issues we face on a daily basis. He is a selectman. He has been there for a while…I think he could do a great job too.”