Russell H. Smith of Aquinnah has been named as the next Dukes County manager. In a special meeting Friday morning, the Dukes County Commission voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Smith to the position, which has been vacant since August.
Mr. Smith has worked as the legislative liaison for the Vineyard since 1996. He will continue to serve in that post until the end of the calender year. He is also a former Aquinnah selectman. Mr. Smith was a finalist for county manager during a search last November. At the time, the county commission voted to readvertise the position.
“We are pleased and we are looking forward to the relationship and Russell coming on board,” commission chairman Leslie Leland said following the meeting Friday. “We have a lot of work to do.”
A complete story about the new county manager will appear in the Friday, April 11 edition of the Gazette.
This article appears in April 4, 2008.
I would like to congratulate Russell on a fine job of hoop jumping and also congratulate the county commissioners on finally giving an islander a chance at this as opposed to bringing in another from away thinking they must have what’s best for us because they come from the “real world” and therefore must have some mysterious knowledge no islander could possess.
Well put, the fact is people have been coming from away for a long time trying to control the way the Island is run, thats why we have so many problems here now. I wish some of the old Islanders would take charge and let these transplants no the ropes.
Sorry Louis and Islander,
You’re way off base this time. I know Tenney Lantz who interviewed for the job. The “I’m not from here so I’m smarter than you” attitude is NOT what she’s all about. She worked to get the new Girl Scout Camp built in Chilmark and did a great job navigating island politics to get it done. I still think it’s unrealistic to think that we can draw from our year round population of about 15,000 to run 6 towns and county government. Off-island 15,000 is about the size of ONE small town. Please don’t try to build up Russell by tearing down Tenney. It’s just plain wrong.
I know a great many people in business off island and on island. Russell Smith has an outstanding head on his shoulders for business,people and politics. He happens to live on the island. A great many people wish him well.
Doug,
I’m not quite sure where you’re coming from. In neither Islander’s comment or mine do I see any tearing down of Tenney Lantz or even the building up of Russell. I think you’re interpreting what you want from our comments due to your obvious admiration of Tenney.
Finally, a wise decision. Russell Smith is one of the smartest, most competent, and best experienced people on the Vineyard. Kudos.