WEST PARIS – Following the resignation of Mary Waterhouse-Spear and Toby Whitman last Thursday, two former selectmen have announced they will be running for the vacancies when a special town meeting convenes at 6:30 p.m. May 15.

The announced candidates include Terry Campbell and Wade Rainey.

Campbell served as selectman for three years from 1999 to 2003. During that time he served as chairman for one year, was instrumental in the rebirth of the town’s Old Home Days celebration, and was a major player in bringing forward the push for a town manager form of government. He also was a strong proponent for fiscal responsibility regarding the annual town budget. The change to a town manager form of government was approved at the annual town meeting this past March. It becomes effective in March of 2004.

Campbell said, “We need someone on the board with experience and who knows what he’s doing. Also we need a board that will give people answers to their questions, and will work hard to save taxpayers money. I want to make it clear that the people who attend meetings need to also give the board a chance to do what it needs to do.”

He is co-owner of the West Paris General Store with his wife, Sheila.

Rainey served on the board for nine years from 1991 to 2000. He served three of those years as chairman and is also a strong proponent of fiscal responsibility for all town officials. Along with his past service, he is a state-licensed assessor who owns and operates TA Associates with his wife, Diane. TA Associates is a licensed tax assessing firm that does assessing for several towns in the Greater Bethel and Oxford Hills areas.

Rainey said, “I think I have the experience to help the town out and help get it back on the road again. We, as a board, need to field calls from our auditors and attorneys so the office staff can do what it has to do without having to take on duties that belong to the selectmen. That’s what the selectmen should have been doing but didn’t.”

Both Campbell and Rainey recognize the fact that nominations are traditionally taken from the floor during town meetings, but hope they will be given the chance to try to bring stability back to the town government in West Paris.

The special election will be held in the gymnasium at the Agnes Gray School on Main Street.