Nashua voters should feel good about David Deane being chosen president of the city’s board of aldermen when they convene with a new lineup next year.

It is a sign, among other things, that the city may be returning to a two-branch system of government.

Deane was chosen Monday night at a caucus of next year’s board – technically not a formal board of aldermen meeting, since new members elected last month haven’t been seated yet – by a vote of 9-6 over Lori Wilshire, the current vice-chairman of the board.

The board had operated since 2010 under the guidance of current President Brian McCarthy, who will remain on the board as an alderman-at-large and was elected vice-chairman on Monday night.

In the days after the election, McCarthy expressed an interest in serving another term as president, saying there were projects in the works that he wanted to complete.

There are always projects in the works, and while we’re appreciative of McCarthy’s steady leadership, we’re also glad McCarthy stepped aside in this instance.

He had, it seemed, allowed the board of aldermen to lose its grasp of oversight responsibilities where the executive branch is concerned, especially with regard to keeping track of the city budget. It had reached the point where it was often difficult to tell where the influence of Mayor Donnalee Lozeau ended and the role of President Brian McCarthy began. There was a perception that the mayor was not only running the executive branch, but that she also imposed her will on the Board of Alderman, too.

The fact that five new members were elected last month – and some longtime incumbents were defeated – is a strong sign that the time had come for new leadership.

Deane is a reasonable choice to restore balance to the legislative and executive functions at Nashua City Hall. He has, at times, been critical of the mayor when he believed it was warranted, but his differences have always been driven by policy, rather than personality. He’s the kind of person with whom you might not always agree, but the logic underlying his positions is usually apparent. He received support from four holdovers from the current board, as well as four of the five newcomers.

Deane thinks for himself and has also been among the board’s champions of transparency.

Which brings us to the most disappointing development of the night: The attempt by Alderman-at-Large-elect Diane Sheehan to get the caucus to choose a new leader by secret ballot.

That she even made such a motion raises serious questions about Sheehan’s commitment to transparency and the public’s right to know how business is being conducted in their name.

Those aldermen who supported doing the public’s business in public and rejected Sheehan’s proposal to act in secret are to be applauded for their commitment to openness and transparency. Voters, in fact, have every right to know who the people they elected are aligning themselves with when it comes to filling leadership positions. Such votes are just as important to conduct in public as other agenda items, especially insofar as they give voters a look at the coalitions that are taking shape on the board.

The fewer secrets the board keeps from the public, the better the public will be served.

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