ROCHESTER — Glenn Cannon, the acting town administrator in Bourne, has been offered the position of Rochester Town Administrator.

Cannon was one of four candidates interviewed by the select board Tuesday, Feb. 22. After the interviews ended, the select board members unanimously voted to offer the job to Cannon.

Select board members generally agreed that Cannon was the best fit for the town. “He was the strongest’’ of the four candidates, all of whom were impressive, select board member Woody Hartley said.

Board chair Bradford Morse said Cannon could “step right in’’ to the position.

He was chosen to replace current town administrator Suzanne Szyndlar, who will leave her current position in June to become town accountant.

Cannon has worked in Bourne for about four years. Prior to that role, he served as director of technical services for the Cape Cod Commission for almost 20 years. 

Three other candidates also were finalists for the position: Herb Durfee, who has served as town manager in Fair Haven and Norwich, Vt.; Jessica Horsman, the director of public health in Attleboro; and Ed Swartz, who has spent 19 years on the Dighton Finance Committee and worked in food distribution.

Cannon told the board that Rochester would be a good fit for him. “I live on three acres of land and love the peace and quiet. It would make me happy to work in a community that cherishes the same things I do.’’

He said he was “looking to grow as a professional’’ and that the Rochester role would represent “a step up professionally.’’

Prior to arriving in Bourne, Cannon worked as a professional engineer. As a result, he said, “I am familiar with overall project management, making sure it’s done right and making sure we are being open and honest with what it will cost us right in the very beginning.”

That engineering experience won him points with Hartley. “His engineering background can be helpful in many ways,’’ Hartley noted, adding that he’s familiar’’ with the area and “clearly knows about Rochester. ‘’

Cannon said he supported what select board members described as Rochester’s commitment to transparency. 

“I like to be out in front. I like to attend events; you get to talk to people who aren’t normally participating in town government, it can be younger folks who have kids and don’t have the ability to go to meetings and find out what’s going on from there, and it’s important to me to meet them too.” 

Integrity matters greatly, he said. “Residents need to trust in the government of the town. They need to know you have their best interest at heart when you walk in the door.”

The four candidates were selected among 18 applicants for the role. The finalists were presented at a Feb. 17 meeting by Bernard Lynch of Community Paradigm, a consulting firm hired by the town to assist with the search, prior to interviews at the Feb. 22 meeting.

Swartz told the board that he has “always had, and it’s been ingrained in my blood, a passion for public service. There’s a lot of similarities between here and where I grew up in Dighton. The one thing you’ll find as you learn about me is that I’m all about community.”

The “most important thing about being a leader is how you communicate,” Swartz said. “I try to keep a positive influence, and it’s always been my feeling to be upfront and forthright with people; it’s all about respect.”

Durfee said he valued accessibility. “I like having people from the street come in and say ‘I wonder if the town administrator is in today” and being able to resolve their issues right then and there. Sometimes I have to ask them to come back later, but I try to be as transparent as possible, that to me is extremely important.’’

Horsman expressed her love for management, “and a big part comes down to how you manage. I love to ask what I can do for you in order to aid you in your role.’’

“I love what I do and interacting with the community,’’ she told the board. “And I want to further my knowledge into overall government management.”