Four candidates vying for two seats on Dixfield Board of Selectmen

DIXFIELD — Four residents are vying for two seats on the Board of Selectmen in the June 9 elections.

Selectmen Scott Belskis and Hart Daley are being challenged by former Town Manager and Selectman Eugene Skibitsky and former Selectman Steve Donahue.

Daley said, “Sitting on the board for three years, I learned a lot more about budgets and budget management. I feel like over the course of the three years I’ve been on the board, I was able to help control our spending and kept it in line with previous years.”

Daley said the town has a lot of big issues coming up, between the RSU 10 withdrawal and the Wind Energy Facility Ordinance.

“It’s an exciting time to live in Dixfield,” Daley said. “I grew up here. I love this town and I feel I still have a lot more to give.”

Skibitsky, who was town manager from 2009 to 2013 and was a selectman before that, said serving the town “is just in my blood.”

“I’ve been on the Board of Selectmen before, and I thought I did a good job there,” Skibitsky said. “I think I did a good job as town manager as well. I know what’s going on with the town financially and in general.”

He said there are “a lot of exciting things going on right now. We have a lot of big construction projects coming up, and I know we’re going to be looking at school withdrawal soon,” he said.

“We have some big issues coming up, and I’m anxious to help out. We have a beautiful town, and I’d like to see it prosper,” he said.

Belskis said if he is re-elected, he would “continue to push back against what has become the norm in in-town politics.”

“People are so used to the norm, and taking what’s been said to them at face value,” Belskis said. “That’s my No 1 issue. I don’t just take what I’m told at face value. The thing is, sometimes, the thing that is most popular may not be what is best for the town.”

He said the job is a tough one.

“The first three years were a learning curve,” Belskis said. “I never make a decision without doing the proper research. I feel that, when you’re in this position, you shouldn’t just go along with things when they’re placed in front of you. It’s important to not just do what a department head says. You need to make them justify their decisions to you.”

Belskis said, “For the past three years, the town has come to the opinion that the board needs to change. If you compare who was sitting on the board three years ago to who is sitting on the board now, it shows that people wanted a change.”

Belskis said it’s important to find ways to bring taxes down and get businesses to come here, “but be fiscally responsible to show that you’ll make it better for the town.”

Donahue, who has served as selectman for five years in two separate terms, said he was “never going to run” again, but was approached by residents who were upset with the current state of the town.

“They came up to me and point-blank asked me to run,” Donahue said. “I didn’t think I was going to do it again. I’ve had tremendous blood pressure problems, and the usual problems middle-aged people get. I’m doing better right now, and I’m going to get back into it.”

Donahue described himself as “opinionated” and sometimes “fiery.”

“But I’m also honest, and I think that’s what people want to see out of their selectmen,” he said. “They want to see honesty and transparency.”

Donahue said the wind ordinance issue has taken on a life of its own, and he sees wind power development as a potential revenue source for the town.

“The selectmen on the board are doing everything they can to keep it out,” Donahue said. “That’s just not right.”

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net