Edgecomb municipal election has two contested races

Fri, 03/20/2015 - 1:15pm

Edgecomb residents will choose between two candidates for selectman and town treasurer this spring. Incumbent Stuart Smith is being challenged by Mike Smith for the selectman’s seat. The other contested race pits incumbent Deb Boucher against Karen Potter for the position of tax collector.

Election Day is on May 15, which is the day before the annual town meeting. The ballot also includes Claudia Coffin, for town clerk and treasurer; Scott Griffin, road commissioner; Thomas Abello, school board; and Jack French and Patricia Jeremiah, for two planning board seats. Coffin, Abello, French, Jeremiah and  Griffin are running opposed. The town clerk, treasurer and road commissioner positions are for one-year terms. The school board and planning board positions are three-year terms.

The selectman’s race is also for a three-year term. Incumbent Stuart Smith, 52, is a self-employed computer software engineer. Mike Smith is a self-employed builder. The two candidates are not related.

Stuart Smith is a three-term incumbent. He is seeking a fourth term to complete some unfinished projects. Those include bringing broadband communications to town and continuing progress on the summer road improvement project.

He is a member of the Maine Municipal Association’s Legislative Council and Lincoln County Budget Committee. He believes his service on these boards gives Edgecomb a strong regional voice.

“There are things I want to do for Edgecomb in the next 2-3 years. I’ve worked to make the right connection so our taxpayers’ concerns are heard at both the county and state levels,” he said.

Mike Smith, 56, has served on the town’s school board, budget and building committees. He believes his previous municipal service and familiarity with the townspeople would serve him well as selectman.

“I’m capable of solving problems and recognizing them before (they become) lawsuits,” he said. “My familiarity around here is a strong point with the people who know I’m a responsible person.”

Stuart Smith previously served two terms on the planning board. He graduated from Wiscasset High School and studied computer science at the University of Maine at Orono. He is the owner of Seguin Software in Edgecomb.

Mike Smith graduated from Bangor High School. He also attended the University of Maine at Orono. He owns Woodsmith Carpentry in Edgecomb.

In the treasurers’ race, Boucher, 56, is vying for her seventh consecutive one-year term. The treasurer works 10 hours per week in the town office, according to Boucher. The treasurer’s duties includes collecting taxes, registering motor vehicles and preparing tax liens and 30-day notices.

She is a certified tax collector with the state of Maine. Boucher believes an experienced tax collector will best serve the residents’ needs.

“I’m running for reelection because I believe continuity is important. I don’t want to see an interruption of services,” Boucher said.

Boucher is self-employed. She owns Tea Rose Quilting in Edgecomb. She graduated from Plymouth-Carver High School in Plymouth, Massachusetts. She graduated and studied hotel and restaurant management at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, Massachusetts.

Her opponent is a first-time candidate. Potter, 38, has 13 years experience working in accounting and warehouse property maintenance in the U.S. Coast Guard. She also has clerical experience and worked as a store keeper.

Potter believes a new person would bring a fresh perspective to the position.

“Change is always good,” Potter said.

She describes herself as a “stay-at-home mom.” She graduated from White Mountain Regional High School in New Hampshire. She studied accounting at Lake Superior State University in Michigan. Potter is a member of the Edgecomb budget committee. She is the youth services leader and handles children’s education for the Edgecomb Congregational Church.

As of March 19, Mike Smith, Boucher, Abello and Coffin have returned nominating petitions.  The filing deadline is on Tuesday, March 31.