WILTON – Five people are running for two selectmen’s seats, and two others are seeking a seat on the school board in Tuesday’s elections.

Richard Tibbetts is challenging incumbent Rodney Hall for the third selectman position, while incumbent George Mosher is being challenged by Russell Black and Michael Lilley for the fourth spot.

Randall Hall is running against incumbent Robert Pullo for the SAD 9 position.

Hall is a seventh-generation resident and a farmer. His family has long been involved in politics and made their living in the town since the 1800s. Hall began Hall Farms Maple Products in 1987. He has served on the Board of Selectmen for the past 11 years.

Hall is a member of the Wilton Lions Club, is past president of the Maine Maple Producers Association and a past member of the National Young Farmers and Ranchers for the American Farm Bureau. Hall has served on the East Dixfield Fire Department for the past 19 years.

Hall said he is particularly concerned about a Maine Taxpayer Action Network tax reform proposal that would leave Maine property owners paying significantly less taxes, but towns scrambling for revenue.

“This could be our biggest challenge in the upcoming year and I think we need people with experience to deal with it,” he said.

Tibbetts has lived in Wilton for 13 years. A self-employed general contractor, he also runs land development and timber harvesting businesses.

Tibbetts serves on the Wilson Lake Country Club board of directors. He said his goal as selectman would be to keep taxes down.

“All I can do is spend the town money like it was my own,” Tibbetts said.

Black was born in Wilton and has served on the Planning Board for more than 15 years.

He is a self-employed farmer, logger and building contractor.

Black is a director of the Franklin County Farm Bureau and Central Maine Team Penning Riding Club, trustee and deacon of the East Wilton Baptist Church, and a member of the Wilton Grange. He is chairman of the Franklin County Republicans and an alternate member of the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Black said taxes and bringing businesses to Wilton are his main concerns.

“As a selectman you need to be willing to take the time to listen to what people want. As a selectman I’d be willing to spend that time,” he said.

Lilley has lived in Wilton all his life. Employed as a safety specialist for Cianbro for the past eight years, he was a volunteer for the former Wilton Ambulance service for six years. He has been a member of the Wilton Fire Department for the past 20 years.

“I want to make sure we spend our money thriftily and get all the value from our money that we can,” he said.

He said he can bring fresh ideas to the board and would like to pass his strong family values on to the community.

Mosher is retired and has served on the Board of Selectmen for three years. Several attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.

All of the positions are for three years.


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