In the search for a town administrator, Oak Bluffs needed to look no further than its own town hall.
On Saturday morning, the Oak Bluffs select board unanimously voted to appoint current acting town administrator and former assistant town administrator Wendy Brough to the full-time role. The board will now enter contract negotiations with Ms. Brough.
The board has been reviewing candidates for the role since March, and on Saturday, the race came down to Ms. Brough, who has worked for the town for more than two decades, and James Kreidler, former town administrator for Ayer, Winchendon and Townsend.
During their deliberations Saturday, the select board praised both candidates for their records and their performance in their 90-minute interviews. Ultimately, board members said Ms. Brough was the pick for her discipline, ideas and proven commitment to Oak Bluffs.
“Wendy [is] very disciplined, a very good project manager … a workhorse, as we all know,” said select board member Mark Leonard. “We know what we’re getting with Wendy.”
“The 20 years she’s put into this town are a huge benefit for us,” added select board member Bill Cleary.
The board drilled both candidates on their previous experience, visions for the town and attitudes toward collaboration with the select board. For Ms. Brough, priorities include improving communication among the select board, town administrator and different departments, earlier preparation for town meeting and fostering a town hall culture where everyone feels valued for their work.
“I do want to work more and know more about Oak Bluffs, and have the ability to help our department heads be autonomous in their positions and find worth in what they do,” she told the board.
Having worked closely with the previous two town administrators, Ms. Brough said she feels ready to take on the top role. After the town asked for a $1.9 million override this spring, she said she feels strongly about taking a close look at the town budget to prepare for the future and keep residents informed.
“We need more discussion about the expenses…” she said. “We just need to know more about what those expenses mean, so we can better tell the people at town meeting, this is why we need the budget.”
Mr. Kreidler said his priorities would have been fostering transparency and trust between himself and the select board, familiarizing himself with Oak Bluffs culture and increasing public participation around town meetings.
Prior to Ms. Brough, the town was led by Deborah Potter. She took the top job in 2021, and stepped down earlier this year.
As Ms. Brough prepares to take on the top town administrator seat, questions remain about whether the town will backfill the assistant town manager and human resources roles she previously filled.
“Having worked with Wendy as much as I have, you need to be prepared to backfill her with two people,” parks and recreation chair Antone Lima told the board.
This article appears in May 22, 2026.