By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
North Attleborough’s own Lance DelPriore is in the running to become Mansfield’s next town manager, chosen as one of three finalists scheduled for final interviews with the Select Board on Thursday, Jan. 8.
The position became available when Kevin Dumas, who was hired as Mansfield Town Manager in 2018, resigned in August 2025. Public Works Director Josh Reinke has been serving as acting town manager since then.
DelPriore – who is joined in the finalist pool by Winchendon Town Manager William McKinney, and Swansea Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein – called Mansfield “a great community with a lot to offer” in a region he has come to know well over the past 13 years.
That familiarity began when DelPriore moved to North Attleborough with his wife shortly after the birth of his first child in 2013.
“I was working in the area as a civil engineering consultant and felt that the town struck a strong balance between affordability, opportunity, location and community,” said DelPriore. “From there, our roots have grown as we’ve made friends and connections.”
DelPriore has an extensive background in municipal government, having served as an assistant town manager in Sharon, town engineer and Foxboro Assistant Director of the Department of Public Works, and most recently as assistant town manager in Hopkinton.
He also points to his experience as a certified air traffic control tower operator in the U.S. Air Force as a unique qualification for leading a town like Mansfield, which is home to a municipal airport. In addition, he is certified by the Society for Human Resource Management and is Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Officer – credentials he said adds to his “diverse and technical” skill set that sets him apart from the other finalists, whom he called “impressive.”
“I have always had a curiosity and fascination with governmental structures and a love of helping people solve problems,” he said. “These interests have pushed me to continue to grow and expand my knowledge. It is my hope to be a steady hand that can provide Mansfield with consistent, considerate leadership through these challenging times.”
When asked what qualities are essential for a successful town manager in a community like Mansfield, DelPriore stressed patience and listening – particularly the importance of hearing residents and stakeholders before rushing to an answer.
“I like to meet people where they are and get first hand knowledge where I can, because you just can’t substitute seeing an issue in person and hearing about it from the people who lived it,” said DelPriore.
Although an opportunity to serve in North Attleborough town government has not yet lined up for DelPriore, he said it’s something he would be open to in the future.
For now, he is focused on his final interview with the Mansfield Select Board, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7:15 p.m. Discussions regarding the next town manager, followed by an executive session, are also listed on the agenda, although it’s unclear if a final decision will be announced that night.
The newly selected town manager will also be responsible for hiring an assistant town manager/finance director, a position that’s been vacant since Matthew Violette left in summer 2025 for a job as director of finance and operations for Mansfield Public Schools.
While DelPriore said each town he’s worked in is unique and requires careful consideration of local needs, he believes looking to neighboring communities of Mansfield – including North Attleborough – is an important part of good governance.
“It is always a good first step to consider how other communities have responded in the past and what were the results,” said DelPriore. “A lot of money and time can be saved by not trying to reinvent the wheel or repeating the mistakes of the past.”