MEXICO – Dr. Monique Aniel, Timothy M. Giasson and Kent Mann are vying for the one year remaining on the term of former Selectman Robert Lyons.

Aniel, 53, is a retired physician. She served on the SAD 43 school board in the mid-1990s, on the Region 9 School of Applied Technology board, and spearheaded the fight in the 1980s against siting a nuclear waste dump in Western Maine. She is currently a member of the town’s Board of Appeals and the Budget Committee.

She moved to the River Valley 22 years ago and is deeply committed to the town.

“When you love something, you are concerned about its future,” she said. “I believe I have gained confidence in the understanding of local government and the interrelationship with the state and federal governments.”

She believes Mexico is at a crossroads in economic development. “The state tax plan will directly affect the towns. It will be a new way for towns to get money. We will have to reinvent ourselves,” she said.

Through her and her husband’s work as physicians, she believes she has a close connection to the needs and problems of the people of the community.

“My vision of the future of Mexico is rooted in an attempt to accept the economical realities of some aspects of regionalization while keeping the small town character that makes the richness of our town,” she said.

She said diversification of the economy is the only way for the town to survive.

She and her husband, Dr. Albert Aniel, live on Backkingdom Road. They came to the United States from Belgium after serving in other parts of the world, in 1977.

Timothy M. Giasson

Giasson, 48, is a current member of the town’s Board of Appeals and Recreation Board. He is making a third try for a seat on the Board of Selectmen. He works at Wal-Mart.

“I see growth coming into the community and I see a bright future for the town. I want to be a part of it,” he said.

He favors regionalization as long as it brings business to the town, and would support merging various departments with other towns if it is a financial advantage to taxpayers. He also wants to see the SAD 43 operating budget reduced, although he said it may not be possible to cut back.

Giasson also wants the town’s budget cut by reducing all departments by the same amount across the board. More community involvement on municipal committees and at the annual town meeting would benefit the town, he said.

“I want to do the right thing for the community. I believe I will be fair and balanced,” he said. “I’m hopeful and confident that I’ll be the next selectman. I like government and want to try. I like working with the public,” he said.

Giasson lives on Main Street. He is a member of the Mexico/Rumford Lions Club and the Sons of the American Legion.

Kent Mann

Mann, 62, is a self-employed contractor and owner of Rhino-Seal Asphalt, and former owner of Eagle Cab Co. He is making a first bid for elective office.

“Mexico is on the move and I recognize that I haven’t made a contribution of service to the town. I feel my business is going well enough so I can take the time to do something for the community,” he said. “There is no businessman on the board now and I think a businessperson should be on for balance.”

He believes a lack of experience in governmental matters could be a good thing because he has no axes to grind. “I want to help make decisions without any partialities.”

One area he may look into concerns the elimination of the call force pay for the town’s fire chief. During the recent budget development, selectmen retained the chief’s stipend but eliminated pay for hours he is called to a fire or other emergency.

“I can appreciate the town trying to hold the line, but I don’t want the town to be penny wise and pound foolish,” he said.

He favors looking for ways to trim the municipal budget. He also is open to greater regionalization in the River Valley area.

He sees a possible future where the River Valley could become the newest city in the state and the only city in Western Maine.

“Maybe this is a pipe dream, but you’ve got to start somewhere. This would eliminate the duplication of effort. The state is looking at siting an East-West highway. Being a city would influence that,” he said.

Mann is a 1961 graduate of Mexico High School and the father of two adult children and the grandfather of six.

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