By Debra Messick

CAMBRIDGE - In a unanimous vote Monday, July 22, Cambridge City Council approved a recommendation from acting City Manager David Deutch that W. Glenn Steckman become the next City Manager.

Steckman, a Baltimore-born Maryland native, currently with a residence in Salisbury, Maryland, brings 25 years of municipal experience to the position, Deutch said.

“He is a Marylander at heart, and this is something of a homecoming for him,” he said.

Selected from an initial pool of 15 applicants, Steckman is currently serving as City Manager in Nome, Alaska. He will start his position in Cambridge during Labor Day week, Deutch said.

In accordance with the City Code mandated requirement that he reside in Cambridge within one year of accepting the position (Sec. 3-39 (b)(4), Steckman relayed to Deutch that his wife had begun checking into the local real estate market.

In addition to his duties as acting City Manager, Deutch had headed the search for a candidate to fill the position left vacant when former City Manager Tom Carroll suddenly resigned in March 2024 over strong differences between the city and Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc.

While those issues had led to litigation, the City and CWDI are currently engaged in a trial period of mediation overseen by a judge.

Deutch had led the successful search for Carroll in 2022.

A press release providing additional details about Steckman’s experience is set to be released this week, Deutch said.

After the 5-0 vote was taken to approve offering the position to Steckman, Ward 4 Commissioner Sputty Cephas told Deutch that while it welcomed the new City Manager, “we’d also be happy if you wanted to stick around.”

Expressing gratitude for all the support shown to him from the Mayor and Council, Deutch noted that while he would be available for consultation going forward, he was eager to return to other duties, while leaving the City’s administration in particularly capable hands.