BETHEL – Despite being overshadowed at Tuesday’s polls by SAD 44’s proposed $9.1 million budget and three key municipal referendums, two men hoped to lead the town into the future.

But only one – incumbent Selectman Reggie Brown – got the nod from voters by day’s end. Brown won his third straight 3-year term on the Board of Selectmen, tallying 402 votes to opponent Francis Dumont’s 209 votes.

“It really surprised me that I won by such a large margin,” Brown said Tuesday night. “I want to thank everyone that voted for me, especially those who wrote letters. I’ll do my best to continue to make every vote represent the people of Bethel.”

Both Brown and Dumont are experienced municipal officials.

Six years ago, Brown, 57, a Bethel native who has a wife and three children, defeated Rick Whitney for a seat on the Board of Selectmen. He then ran unopposed to win his second 3-year term.

Prior to becoming a selectman, Brown served on the Bethel Planning Board for 10 years.

Dumont, 40, also has a wife and three children. Although he currently serves on the Budget Committee, other municipal service includes the Board of Appeals, several committees and five years on the town Planning Board.

Brown, who formerly owned and operated Brown’s Mobil service station in town for 10 years, is newly employed as the service manager for Brooks Bros. Inc.

Dumont and his wife moved to Bethel from Salem, N.H., in 1984, buying, operating and developing the Pleasant River Motel and Campground. They sold it eight years ago and began a new business, Maine Custom Builders.

Both men cited a desire to work for what’s in the best interests of Bethel as their motivation for running.

“There are still some interesting projects coming up in Bethel and I’d like to be involved. There is a lot of sewer work, road work, and continued growth at the airport,” Brown said.

Dumont said frustrations at how the town is being run was his main motivation for seeking a selectman’s seat.

While neither candidate actively campaigned, both sought to rejuvenate economic growth.

In other non-contested elections, both incumbent SAD 44 directors Robert Everett and Becky Cummings retained their seats, garnering 366 and 472 votes, respectively. Everett also won a town assessor seat getting 550 votes. Incumbent assessor Arlan Jodrey chose not to seek re-election, creating the opening.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com