WILTON – Leanne McCutcheon, wife of Wilton police Officer Kevin McCutcheon, has no concerns about a conflict of interest if she were elected to a selectman’s spot, she said Monday.
McCutcheon filed nomination papers for Norman Gould’s selectman’s position Friday, Town Manager Peter Nielsen said. Six people are running for two selectmen’s positions while two are vying for one spot as the town’s school board director.
The spouse of a town police officer may legally serve as a selectman in the same town, according to Geoff Herman of the Maine Municipal Association. Although serving as selectman is not an incompatible position for McCutcheon, she may have to recuse herself from debate and voting on issues dealing with the Police Department, he said. Conflict of interest is defined as a situation in which an official has a financial interest of 10 percent or more in a particular issue.
In the case of selectmen who merely make budget recommendations to town voters rather than controlling budgets, it would likely not be a concern.
McCutcheon has had experience working with budget committees and selectmen in other towns and would like the opportunity to serve Wilton, she said.
She is challenging incumbent Norman Gould and soon-to-retire Cushing School Principal Paul Gooch for the position. Jeff Rowe is not running to retain his seat. Three candidates have filed to run for his position: Terry Brann Sr., a teacher at Central Maine Community College; Warren Rollins, a retired paper mill worker; and Rebecca Haley, a resident fairly new to town.
Running for school board is incumbent Susan Black, Franklin County Register of Deeds, who will defend her seat against Irv Faunce, director of program operations for Western Maine Community Action.
Elections will be held June 7; the annual meeting is scheduled for June 13.
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