A flurry of speculation and suspicion developed a couple of weeks ago when a search for a new superintendent of Acadia National Park was abruptly called off. The word circulated that a selection already had been made and the job would go to P. Daniel Smith, special assistant to National Park Service Director Fran Mainella. But Ms. Mainella already had promised a broad national search for the best-qualified person to fill the position. Angry protests resulted.

Park Service spokespersons, after a bit of back and forth, eventually denied that Mr. Smith had a lock on the job, and said the national job search would be resumed. They explained the interruption as necessary to revise the job description to include experience in working with fund-raising organizations like Friends of Acadia. Ms. Mainella said she had never offered Mr. Smith the job. Mr. Smith was traveling in Alaska and unavailable for comment.

Well, he’s back in Washington and quite prepared to discuss his career, his connections and his plans for the future. Here’s his side of the story: He was born in Portland and has long Maine roots on his mother’s side. He has had 27 years of experience in the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, first as a political appointee and for the past 10 years as a civil servant. He was a finalist for appointment as Acadia superintendent in 1991.

When Paul Haertel retired as superintendent in September, Mr. Smith asked Ms. Mainella to use her discretionary power to give him a “lateral transfer” to the Acadia superintendency. The listing was pulled from the federal government’s Web site. Ms. Mainella later informed him of her earlier commitment and ordered the job re-listed. Mr. Smith is applying, but Ms. Mainella says he must compete like any other applicant.

Besides the Park Service, Mr. Smith has held positions in the General Services Administration and on the staffs of Rep. David Emery, R-Maine, and Sen. Sam Ervin Jr., D-N.C. As a staff member of a House subcommittee in 1997, he made some enemies by helping block the creation of a new visitors’ center at the Gettysburg national battleground. He argued that private contributions probably could not pay the $95 million cost and the government might have to make up the difference. In 1978-80, he was a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association on issues involving firearm regulation and hunting issues on federal lands.

He’s a strong candidate and may still have the inside track. Ms. Mainella has the final say in the matter. Now it’s up to supporters of the park to make sure that the selection process remains open and that it finds a worthy successor to Mr. Haertel.