There are no guarantees in politics.

But Rockport's selectmen took a commendable step toward stability for the town earlier this week when they chose an interim town administrator before the departure of the incumbent, Michael Racicot, whose last day is tomorrow.

And it's another encouraging sign of stability that the vote to appoint Edgar C. Gadbois to the presumed three-month position was unanimous among selectmen many view as being split 3-2 decisions on important matters.

Gadbois, a Falmouth resident, comes with impressive credentials; he has more than 30 years of municipal administration experience, including four years as mayor of Marlborough in the 1970s. He has also been an administrator in Framingham, Wellfleet, Great Barrington as well as Rindge, N.H.

As Selectmen Chairman Wendell "Sandy" Jacques noted, Gadbois is somebody who can "hit the ground running."

According to the application specifications, Gadbois is eligible to seek the permanent position. He has already declared he won't (see news story, Page 1).

It is not that he wouldn't be a qualified candidate, but it would have been better for selectmen to make it clear that the interim position was just that, rather than a possible "audition" for the permanent job.

It is likely that allowing an interim administrator to be among the applicants for the permanent job would discourage the best and brightest from applying. They would justifiably wonder how they could compete with somebody who was already in place, already forming relationships with those holding the power to make the appointment.

It would be ideal, of course, in fact, not to make interim appointments, but simply hire a permanent replacement when there is a vacancy. In this case, however, it is justified.

First, the opening was sudden and somewhat unexpected. Racicot was just one year into a new three-year contract when he abruptly announced his "retirement" just nine days after Jacques was elected. Jacques had campaigned on a platform of reining in the town administrator's authority. Racicot clearly did not want to remain if his power was diminished.

And that leads to the second reason this is an appointment that will take some extra time: Selectmen are reviewing the administrator's job description, with an eye toward making sure it is they who set policy, and the administrator who carries it out.

That is well worth some serious discussion. An administrator must be given authority to run the day-to-day operations of the town. Selectmen should not be meddling with that.

It is the selectmen's role, however, to set the broad policy which the administrator executes. They are, after all, the elected representatives of the people, and therefore accountable for the results of policy.

If those lines of authority are clear, it offers a good chance of leading to an era of stability in Rockport government — and the town's residents should welcome that with open arms.