MANSFIELD — The Town Council elected Ben Shaiken mayor and Carlita Cotton deputy mayor at its October 26 meeting and appointed Finance Director Amanda Backhaus interim town manager effective October 27, according to the town’s October 27 announcement.
Shaiken succeeds Antonia Moran, whose resignation took effect at the meeting after 17 years on the council. He had served on the council since 2015 and as deputy mayor since 2019. Cotton has served on the council since 2022.
The manager appointment changes Mansfield’s administrative leadership while the town searches for a permanent town manager. The council decided not to extend its contract with MGT Company, which supplied professional administrator Stephen Daly as acting and then interim manager through October 26. The town cited fiscal responsibility for that decision; the announcement does not identify a selected permanent manager or a hiring date.
Backhaus joined Mansfield in June 2023. Her shared-services finance work has covered the town, Mansfield Public Schools and Regional School District 19, including E.O. Smith High School. She previously served as Coventry’s finance director and town treasurer and is a certified public accountant.
In the announcement, Shaiken said Backhaus’s leadership would help the town respond to staff and residents and begin developing the 2027–28 budget. That is a stated administrative priority, not an adopted spending plan.
Moran’s vacant council seat is to be filled by council appointment later this calendar year, the town said. All council positions are scheduled for election in November 2027 when their current terms expire.
This report is based on Mansfield’s public announcement. The mayor, deputy mayor and interim manager are distinct offices; the council leadership votes do not complete the permanent-manager search.