WEST WARWICK — Two finalists for the post of town administrator described themselves, respectively, as “visionary” and “dedicated” in interviews with the Town Council last night.

James H. Thomas, of Biddeford, Maine, and Mark W. Haddad, of Fairfield, Conn., fielded questions — and even recounted unpleasant episodes from their pasts.

The third finalist, W. Glenn Steckman III, a former Tiverton town administrator, is scheduled to be questioned at a Town Hall session at 5:30 p.m. today.

The three are vying to succeed Wolfgang Bauer, who was dismissed in December after nine years as manager.

Haddad once served a six-month stint as town administrator in Jamestown, leaving in June 2005 to become executive vice president of business operations for Ventus Networks, in Norwalk, Conn. He was appointed town manager in Stratford, Conn., in 2006.

He told the council he made recent career jumps as better opportunities presented themselves, and, in one case, to make a fresh start after a tumultuous ordeal in Stratford. He provided letters of reference and newspaper articles detailing a Stratford investigation sparked by claims of harassment in a Massachusetts community. He said he was ultimately cleared of the allegations but decided to leave Straford because of the publicity.

“I’ve done a lot of good things, I’ve also made some mistakes,” he said. Later, he added, “I’ve used poor judgment with my personal relationships and I’ll leave it at that. I learn from my mistakes.”

If appointed, Haddad said, he would have an “open door policy” and would be dedicated to town business.

Thomas served most recently as the town manager in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, a position he held for a little more than four years. He said that he left that post to take a position in Connecticut that, at the last minute, failed to materialize.

While serving in the Old Orchard Beach post, Thomas told the council, a local business owner accused him of defaming the business’s customers and calling them lewd name. Later, he said, the business owner retracted his accusations and apologized to him.

Thomas said his previous experience as village manager in Whitefish Bay, Wis., and in Old Orchard Beach — which boasts a population of 100,000 in the summer — could help the town as it looks to bring a indoor water park resort and attract tourists to the area.

A self-proclaimed fiscal conservative, Thomas said he eliminated 12 positions in his first weeks as city manager in Sterling, Colo.

“Just because something is the status quo doesn’t mean it’s the right way to do things,” he said.

tbuford@projo.com