MEXICO – Three men are making first-time bids for a two-year seat on the Board of Selectmen.

Edward Fontaine III, 51, of Penley Street, Richard Philbrick, 33, of Chase Avenue, and Wesley Raynor, 58, of Whitman Street are running for the two years remaining in former Selectman Louise Waterhouse’s term. Waterhouse died unexpectedly earlier this year.

Fontaine believes area towns should work together for the benefit of all. He is a strong supporter of the state’s economic Pine Tree Zones and the area’s River Valley Growth Council.

“I believe in the regional concept and believe the towns should cooperate in the purchase of oil, sand, other things,” he said. “If it helps one town, it will help the others.”

Property taxes are high on his priority list. Fontaine, a self-employed plumbing contractor, wants the town to talk with local legislators in an effort to get the state to help relieve Mexico’s tax burden. He supports the Maine Municipal Association’s property tax relief plan, and believes the Palesky plan is too drastic.

He has volunteered his skills at Black Mountain, a facility he believes will help the entire River Valley. He also volunteers for Maine Special Olympics and for the Chisholm Ski Club.

“I’ve been here my whole life and I feel I should do service to the town. Everyone should do their part,” he said.

He graduated from Mexico High School. He and his wife, Sue, have three children.

Philbrick, a public works employee for the town of Rumford, also believes in some kind of regional effort. But first, he said the whole picture must be studied to make sure that any cooperative effort is fair to all towns involved. He believes combining the Mexico and Dixfield police departments could help save money and make dispatching easier.

He has been active with Boy Scouts, earned Eagle Scout honor and is a troop leader.

“I wanted to pay back what I got out of it. If we can save one child from the street, then that’s an accomplishment,” he said.

Philbrick believes Mexico Town Manager Joseph Derouche is headed in the right direction.

“He and the current board have done an excellent job. I want to be part of the team. I’d show leadership and listen to people,” he said.

He is a member of the Elks. He and his wife, Tammy, have two young children.

Raynor is a Vietnam veteran and recent full-time resident of the town. He and his wife, Ruth, a native of the area, have been coming to Mexico for 37 years.

For the past year, he has served on the town’s Citizens Advisory Board, a group charged with finding ways to market the town.

He believes many people have given “lip service” to consolidating services. He wants to develop a plan that could consolidate such services as police, fire and sewer and water departments, and even the animal control services.

“This could create better services and lower taxes,” he said.

He, along with the other two candidates, want to continue to work toward bringing more business and industry to the town. Raynor also wants to establish more reserve accounts so that the town would operate more like a business.

Raynor, originally from Indiana, is a retired district sales manager who works in real estate.

“When you sell, you become very creative,” he said, adding that trait would help in the role of selectman.

He and his wife at the parents of two adult children.

Elections are held on June 8.

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