A New Hampshire attorney and former county commissioner from the Granite State was selected this week as the next Dukes County manager. But Katherine Rogers told the Gazette yesterday that she is still deciding whether to take the job.

Katherine Rogers.

“I am very seriously considering it,” Ms. Rogers said. “It’s a great honor and it’s thrilling that they would offer me the job.” She said she expects to make her final decision within the next seven days.

At a special meeting Wednesday, the Dukes County Commission voted 5 to 2 to offer her the position. If she does take the job, Ms. Rogers, a former county attorney serving Merrimack County, N.H., will relocate to the Island from Concord, N.H.

In the event that Ms. Rogers does not accept the position, the county commission is expected to reassess the other finalists.

“We will go back to the remaining candidates and open up a discussion,” said commission chairman Melinda Loberg yesterday.

Ms. Rogers, currently a lawyer in private practice, served as county attorney in Merrimack, N.H. for three years. She also served as a Merrimack County commissioner from 2001 to 2009. Ms. Rogers was the only off-Island candidate. She was also one of two candidates who wrote thank you letters following their interview with the county commissioners, which took place last week.

“She will bring a lot of know-how to the job,” Ms. Loberg said. “She is a seasoned veteran, a person who has had a lot of experience.”

Not all commissioners were on board with the decision and there was heated debate before the vote. Commissioners John Alley and Tristan Israel opposed the motion to select Ms. Rogers. Mr. Israel voiced concern that her current off-Island residence made her unsuitable for the position. “The history on the board of bringing someone from off-Island has been spotty,” Mr. Israel said. “She has impressive credentials, but I hope we’re not making a big mistake.”

Others took a different view. “This borders on ‘Irish need not apply,’ ” said county commissioner Leonard Jason Jr. “We agreed to go out and get the best person for this job.”

Under the county charter, the county manager must live on the Island. “There are going to be some risks involved with every candidate,” Ms. Loberg said. “We asked this candidate many times [about moving to the Island], and the answer was always in the affirmative,” she said. “This person overcame the deficit of not living here which tells me people are able to see something really remarkable about her.”

Commissioners who voted to offer Ms. Rogers the position were Carlene Gatting, Melinda Loberg, Thomas Hallahan, Leonard Jason, Jr. and Beth Toomey.

“Katherine Rogers’s level of expertise, knowledge, presentation, demeanor and references were all stellar,” Ms. Gatting said. “[Her] whole package rose significantly above the other candidates.”

Thomas Hallahan said he was most impressed by Ms. Rogers’s answer to the interview question, where do you want to see the county in five years? “Ms. Rogers was the only candidate who said, that’s not my job, it’s your job,” he said, referring to the commissioners. “She didn’t miss a question. It was right off the top of her head.”

The five finalists were Christopher Knowles, health director for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah); Martina Thornton, current executive assistant to the county manager; Jessica Burgoyne, property manager for the Morgan Woods affordable housing development; and Jeffrey Madison, an attorney on the Island.

Three commissioners chose Ms. Rogers as their top candidate, while two chose Mrs. Thornton. Jessica Burgoyne and Jeffrey Madison were ranked third.

Mr. Alley said he favored Martina Thornton, the current executive assistant, because she knew the political body best. “I voted for Martina because she has been our leader . . . we need someone who already knows the players,” Mr. Alley said.

The county budget allows for an annual salary of $63,500. The job description calls for expertise managing a budget, writing grants and communicating with other government leaders. The previous county manager, Russell Smith, resigned May 1 after holding the position for four years. Noreen Flanders, county treasurer, has been serving as interim county manager.

There were 19 applications for the position. The five finalists were interviewed publicly last week.