Gov. names Maylor as new comptroller
Andrew Maylor, the North Andover town manager who stepped up as a leader in addressing the Merrimack Valley gas disaster, will assume a new role as comptroller of the commonwealth next month.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced the appointment Wednesday, effective Feb. 18, of Maylor as the independent overseer of the commonwealth’s financial transactions, accountability and service delivery across all branches of state government.
He will replace Thomas Shack, who did not immediately return requests for comment.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Maylor told the Herald. “I bring to the position not just experience with finance but direct experience interacting with those people at the ground level in the commonwealth.”
Baker’s office reached out to Maylor around Christmastime, he said, to introduce the idea. Maylor took some time to reflect on both the position and the status of his community following the disaster to determine if this was an appropriate time to make the career move.
“That was difficult,” Maylor said. “I certainly owe this community getting them through the most difficult times, which was the time when they didn’t have heat and hot water, but we’re past that phase.”
Maylor said the community is now dealing with questions about road repair and claims and he felt that the “extraordinary staff” could pick up the ball.
Baker touted Maylor’s three decades of experience in both the public and private sector of financial management, saying he is “extremely well-qualified” for the job.
“I am confident that Andrew will bring the level of transparency, integrity and accountability necessary for this job. We look forward to working together and thank Thomas Shack for his public service as Comptroller,” Baker said in a statement.
Maylor said he was impressed with Shack’s work and all the information available through the comptroller’s website and hopes to build on it.
“My goal would be to use that as a baseline and move forward even further in terms of increasing transparency,” Maylor said.