LIVERMORE — Voters will be asked to choose a candidate to fill a two-year term plus a three-year term on the Board of Selectpersons when they go to the polls on Tuesday, June 9. Two candidates are running for each of  those seats.

Incumbent Megan Dion and Scott Richmond seek to fill a three-year term on the Board of Selectpersons. Dion was asked to run for the position three years ago. She previously worked full time for the town before starting her family and filled in on a part-time basis until the birth of her daughter.

Dion sees the possibility of revenue sharing being cut as critical for the town. That issue, combined with a school budget that continues to increase, makes it more important than ever for the board to use tax dollars wisely without creating more of a tax burden. Decisions made will affect the elderly (who are already facing cuts), the young and everyone in between, Dion said.

She loves the people of Livermore and enjoys serving them. Helping her husband, Matthew, with his excavating business has given her experience with running a business.

“That helps with understanding the needs of the town,” she said.

“There are some hard decisions to be made this year,” Dion said.

At the town meeting, voters will act on several issues with hefty fiscal notes. What to do about a sand/salt shed, whether pieces of equipment should be purchased and how much to invest in the paving of town roads are some of those decisions.

“Whoever gets in will have some big issues to deal with right out of the gate,” Dion said.

Some people may consider the fact that Dion wants to save money rather than spend it a bad thing. She said the five-member board doesn’t always unanimously agree on the issues.

“Diversity is good,” she said.

If re-elected, Dion plans to look at how to make the town more appealing to business. She said once the bigger obstacles are addressed, getting new or expanding companies to consider locating in Livermore will be an important next step.

Running against Dion is Scott Richmond, who said, “It’s all in the genes.” His father served on the board for two years in the 1980s.

Richmond is a Livermore Falls High School graduate. Single, he lives with his dog on Bartlett Pond Road.

He is a 24-year member of the Livermore Fire Department and is currently captain of the department. Richmond is also trail master and a 20-plus year member of the Trailblazers Snowmobile Club. He has worked at Pioneer Plastics in Auburn for 20 years. 

Richmond is concerned with where the town is going in the long term. He has lived there for 42 years and plans to be there another 42. 

For Richmond, the most critical issue is the roads and the fact that there is no long-term plan in place.

“With 40 miles of roads, doing 1 mile a year won’t cut it,” he said.

While the town doesn’t have control, the schools are another issue for Richmond. 

Richmond likes helping out his community, and said that Livermore is a great town and, generally, everyone is a great neighbor. He has driven by the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center many times and was there the night the barn burned. Richmond was at the barn-raising there on Saturday and said if the Fire Department hadn’t been able to save the mansion, the participants probably wouldn’t have been there.

“It’s how I was brought up,” he said.

Incumbent Rodney Newman is seeking another two-year term on the board. He has also served on the school board, the Planning Board, the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the Budget Committee. Newman also worked for the town’s Highway Department.

Newman said he brings perspective to the table. He feels he represents a good number of the townspeople fairly and honestly.

“I have no agenda,” he said. “I bring a good balance to the board.”

The budget is one of Livermore’s more critical issues for Newman. Keeping costs down as best he can is important to him. Trying to balance that out with road requirements without overruns is a challenge. 

The thing that Newman enjoys most about serving on the select board is the people, whom he considers the town’s greatest asset. He likes working with the selectpersons, town employees and other people in Livermore. He has watched the townspeople and said they are very generous and understanding with the schools or when there is a need.

Newman has been a resident of Livermore for 35 years and says he has a good knowledge of the town’s history and what’s happened there. His experience as a self-employed individual has allowed him to interact with people, which gives him a good perspective.

“I understand the process of construction and the roads and what it takes to maintain them,” Newman said.

He also feels he has a good grasp of budgeting and how the school operates, which he can take to the board.

Newman’s work experience also includes working in a garage, in construction and for the town’s highway department. His wife, Brenda, grew up in Livermore and the couple has four children.

Running against Newman is William “Tom” Gould. If elected, this would be Gould’s first time holding a public office. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the Coast Guard and served in the Merchant Marines for 25 years. He is chief engineer for their fleet and will be retiring later this year so that he can spend more time at home.

Gould wants to get more involved. About 10 years ago, he moved his family from Auburn to Livermore to make it easier for his wife, Diane, when he had to be away, as her family lives just down the road. Diane was killed in an automobile accident in January. Gould has three sons.

He has volunteered with seasonal AYS baseball and tee-ball programs when he was home and available. He plans to spend more time helping AYS and other organizations within the community after his retirement.

These are tough economic times, and Gould wants to help be a good steward of the town’s taxes. He said they seem a bit high and wants to get involved with how the town is spending money.

Gould is concerned about people in town who are struggling financially and wants to look out for those who need help.

“We need to be prepared for the future,” he said.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net