Deputy Mayor Shaiken Elected as Mansfield’s New Mayor; Director of Finance appointed as Interim Town Manager

The Mansfield Town Council voted on three key leadership changes at their October 26 meeting. After receiving news October 13 that Mayor Antonia Moran would resign effective at this week’s meeting, the Town Council voted to elect Deputy Mayor Ben Shaiken as Mayor. 

The Town Council also announced that out of fiscal responsibility, they agreed not to extend the contract with MGT Company, a consulting firm hired to provide professional administrator Stephen Daly to serve as Acting, then Interim, Town Manager, through October 26. Mr. Daly has served in that capacity since late July.

To lead the Town of Mansfield while the search for a permanent Town Manager proceeds, the Town Council has named an internal staff member, Director of Finance Amanda Backhaus, CPA, as Interim Town Manager effective October 27. 

Ms Backhaus joined the staff in Mansfield in June, 2023. In this shared services role, Ms Backhaus has directed the financial operations for Mansfield Public Schools and Edwin O. Smith High School Regional School District 19, as well as the Town of Mansfield.

Prior to her service in Mansfield, Ms Backhaus served as Director of Finance and Town Treasurer for the Town of Coventry, CT. She also has extensive experience with auditing firms, serving as an audit manager and a senior associate from 2008 to 2017. Ms Backhaus is a Certified Public Accountant and was an Honors graduate from the University of Connecticut where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics. She is a resident of Mansfield.

“Amanda is well respected by the Town Council members, and by her peers within the Town departments and both Boards of Education,” says Mayor Shaiken. “She has valuable skills that will help Mansfield continue on a course of fiscal responsibility while being responsive to staff and residents. We are confident that her leadership will help to get us to re-focus on the future and begin the process to develop our budget for 2027-28.

Newly elected Mayor Ben Shaiken (D) has been a member of the Town Council since 2015, and was elected as Deputy Mayor in 2019. Professionally, he works as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance, a statewide association of community nonprofits in Connecticut. A native of Mansfield, he is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.

The Town Council also elected Dr. Carlita Cotton (D) as Deputy Mayor. Dr. Cotton has served on the Town Council since 2022.

“I look forward to working with Dr. Cotton leading our Town Council. She is very involved with many of our local organizations, including the Veterans, and actively attends many of our community’s activities,” says Mayor Shaiken. “We are lucky to have someone with Carlita’s experience in this deputy capacity.”

The Council hosted a reception for Mayor Moran prior to the meeting, and presented her with a Proclamation. In his remarks, the Deputy Mayor said, “Toni has been a mentor not only to me but everyone else, both Republican and Democrat, who has served with her. We are going to miss her on the Town Council. She has always had a true north in terms of her morals, and is a decisive decisionmaker, yet open to feedback.”

He acknowledged the improvements made in the community under the Mayor’s leadership, prioritizing expanding Mansfield’s tax base. As a result the community has maintained a flat tax rate while stillincreasing fire department staff, doubling the budget to pave roads, and building a new net-zero elementary school. “There are so many things you see every day, and many you don’t, that are the way they are because of the work Toni put in with the Council. I, and my colleagues on the Council, are incredibly grateful for Toni’s leadership.”

State Senator Mae Flexer read a citation on behalf of Second District Congressman Joe Courtney, and Mansfield’s Representatives Gregg Haddad and Pat Boyd, along with Senator Flexer, shared a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly.

The seat on the Town Council vacated by Ms Moran after 17 years of service will be filled by appointment by the Council later this calendar year. All the Town Council positions will be up for an election in November of 2027 when their terms expire.

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ABOUT THE TOWN OF MANSFIELD, CONNECTICUT

Mansfield is a vibrant, diverse, and caring community that offers its residents and visitors unique cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities. Known for its excellent public schools, community-wide events, inclusive and efficient government, parks and preserves, protected open spaces, and agriculture, the Town is home to the main campus of the University of Connecticut. Principles of sustainability guide zoning and development, preserving the Town’s historic character and providing for economic vitality. Come and enjoy the beauty and historic traditions that Mansfield has offered for more than 300 years and see why it’s your place to grow .mansfieldct.gov.