Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-17
New Manager of
City of Portland
Talks About Job

FOftland, Dec. ia genial,
mild hammered man of action and
few words sits in the chair of the
chief executive of the city Of Port
land as city manager. He is Harry
A. Brinkerhoff of Rutherford, N. j.,
a consulting engineer of consider
| able fame in his profession, who was
sought by the position and who as
| sumed his duties here yesterday
| morning.
His election a week ago came as q
distinct surprise to citizens of the
| city, some of whom expected to see
| a local man assume the relns of the
| new council manager form of govern
| ment and others, used to tine old po-
lltical term of government, expect
ing to have a long wait before the
| city managers appointment was an
nounced.
citizens who thus far have seen
and talked with Mr.. Brinkerhoff are
| practically unanimous, however, in
| pralsing the quick action OF the five
city councillors in choosing this
executive, while he was available, at
a salary of $4,000 annually. He has
made good impression among all
| who have met him, and the general
public has developed much more ccr-
fidence in the new form of govern
| ment in the belief that here, in Mr.,
| Erinkerhcff, is a man who cannot
he sWaEed by petty politicians, and
wft is fit companion for tire coun-
Gil.
This city manager is nearly 6 feet
! tail ard weighs about ITO pounds.
| us complexion is rudy and his face
! broad ahd goOd-natu led in appear
ahet. HIS mouth is firm, but easily
nXNIf06 n Low
gray, with white at the temples,
closely cropped at the sides, and
parted carefully in the middle. He is
good listener. He proved that yes
!, terday when the subordinate officials
OF the city. all hopeful and fearful of
appointment by him, trooped through
his office in review. They all had
something to say. And they all re-
celved pleasant words of encourage
ment from the new executive. He
leaned way back in his swivel chair,
! MS mana TO his chin sometimes and
again toying with his horn trimmed
| spectacles. He looked each and every
one or them square in the eyes.
That seemed to be one of his out
standing habits. And when he
! laughed, as he often did, he leaned
his head far back. He impresses one
as a man who would much rather
listen than talk and who would be
i thinking IN rapid accompaniment to
every word he heard. He is exceed
lhsiv peasant to talk to, is sauve,
ana mas low, we'll -modulated voice
| Mr.. Brinkerhoff has never had any
political experience. Many leading
citizens think that is very we'll, for
the new form of government is de-
signed to be non partisan, and poll
tics is taboo in Portland now, off,
| cially at least.
| 1.-THE way I look at this new ex-
perience of mine," he said, is that the
board of directors of big corpora
a certain job in efficient manner, And
l am going to try to do it we'll.
l might be called an Independent
in politics. / voted for Cleveland,
Roosevelt, Taft. Wilson and Hard
ing, whoever / thought was best man.
u don't care to announce any poll
cies of the new government just now.
Perhaps we have not had time enough
to formulate them. There is one
thing that might be called a policy,
however. and that is the determine
ton not to make any appointments
without proceeding in very cautious
| manner. I want to look over the
ground carefully before subordinate
officials are chosen, if changes are
! made
Mr.. Brinkerhoff was born in Ruth
erford, N. j., 50 years ago, son of the
late Andrew Fl. Brinkerhoff, mayor
there two terms. and one of a long
company of ancestors dating back to
1900. when a Brinkerhoff came to
New Jersey from Holland. He has
been married % years and has two
daughters. All the members of the
family are affiliated with the First
PRESBYTERIAN Church of Rutherford.
Golf is Mr.. Brinkerhoff's principal
recreation, and as a member of the
| Yountakah Country Club of Nutting,
N. j., he has had much exercise in
the ancient game. II am hardly q
golfer. You might say I play at the
game" Mr.. Brinkerhoff declares.