WILTON – Three candidates are running for one selectmen’s seat while four are bucking for the other. Running for Norman Gould’s seat are the incumbent, Leanne McCutcheon and Paul Gooch. Jeff Rowe will be giving up his seat, but four candidates are vying to replace him. They are Terry Brann, Rebecca Haley, Warren Rollins and Kyle Ellis. Ellis is running as a write-in candidate.
Also running for one school director position are incumbent Susan Black, who will defend her seat against Irving Faunce.
Municipal elections for these positions and a $21.9 million school budget will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the town office.
For Norman Gould’s seat
Name: Norman Gould
Age: 65
Family: Two daughters, Meg Daku and Marcia Crosby; one son, Nathan Gould; and five grandchildren
Education: Graduate of Wilton Academy
Military service: Served three years in the U.S. Army
Community service: Member of the Housing Rehabilitation Committee
Political experience: More than 37 years as a Wilton selectman, more than 22 years on the Wilton Planning Board
Occupation: Retired. Formerly employed by International Paper for 36 years as a fire inspector
Hobbies or other interests: Hunting, farming, gardening. Member of the East Dixfield United Baptist Church where he is deacon, president, Sunday school teacher and former Sunday school superintendent. He is a lifelong resident of Wilton, residing in same house where he was born.
Name: Paul E. Gooch
Age: 57
Family: Wife, Susan; two grown children, Steven of Wilton and Stephannie of Northfield, Vt.
Education: Master’s degree in education in school administration from University of Maine; bachelor of science degree in education from University of Maine at Machias
Community service: Boy Scout leader and adult leader training, Little League coach and commissioner, Wilton Recreation Commission, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Wilton Finance Committee, Police Chief Search Committee, Franklin County and Wilton Emergency Management, Friends of Wilson Lake and Invasive Water Plants management
Political experience: None
Occupation: Elementary school principal for Wilton schools for past 27 years, retiring in June
Hobbies or other interests: Hunting, fishing, boating, boat building and amateur radio
Name: Leanne McCutcheon
Age: 42
Family: Husband, Kevin McCutcheon with a combined family of five children ranging in age from 15 months to 11 years old
Education: Middlesex Community College, finishing at Plymouth State College, in education and athletic training; certified emergency medical technician; certified open water recreation diver
Community service: Animal Welfare Society volunteer and fund-raiser organizer, vice chairwoman of DARE committee, vice president of elementary Parent/Teacher/Children, Parks and Recreation Committee member – organized youth and adult sports and community programs, Winter Carnival, ski program, indoor soccer and tennis programs
Political experience: Director of Parks and Recreation Committee
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom with an out-of-the-home craft business
Hobbies or other interests: Outdoor activities including horseback riding, hiking, biking, coaching and playing soccer
For Jeff Rowe’s seat
Name: Rebecca Eve Haley
Age: 26
Family: Lives with fiance Nicholas Soha and their three children, Taylor, 7; Aiden, 4; and Riley, 2
Education: Currently a senior at University of Maine at Farmington, working toward a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in philosophy; dedicated student of naturopathy, making herbal products for her family. Plans to attend law school in 2006 but will stay in Wilton and commute.
Community service: Volunteer for Abused Women’s Advocacy Project in Franklin County – answering telephones, taking donations, assisting with the food bank and in court. Also has volunteered at the Franklin County animal shelter.
Political experience: “This is my first political venture and I hope to serve my community in this capacity.”
Occupation: Student
Hobbies or other interests: Keeping aquariums
Name: Warren Rollins
Age: 74
Family: Three grown children, seven grandchildren
Education: Some studies at University of Maine, various management programs while working for Oxford Paper, Ethyl Corp. and Boise Cascade
Community service: Finance Committee, Board of Appeals, town constable for 19 years
Political experience: Member of Board of Trustees of Wilton Free Public Library since 1994 and president of Wilton Free Public Library Association since 1998, president of Wilton Historical Society for past two years, current treasurer of Franklin County Republican Party and past chairman of Wilton Republican Party.
Occupation: Retired for 14 years as salaried supervisor of maintenance department of paper company
Hobbies or other interests: Golf, hunting and fishing. Lifetime member of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. Has lived for 48 years at his current address.
Name: Terry Brann
Age: 59
Family: Wife, Sherrill; two children; four grandchildren
Education: Bachelor’s degree in technical education from University of Southern Maine
Community service: President of SAD 9 Area Little League Football for a number of years, 25-year member of the East Wilton Volunteer Fire Department, past master of Wilton Masonic Lodge
Political experience: “I’ve been debating with my wife for over 40 years. I am very concerned about the direction in which the town of Wilton is headed. We have very little industry left and the downtown area is dying bit by bit with no apparent relief in sight.”
Occupation: More than 28 years as a graphic arts instructor at Central Maine Community College
Hobbies or other interests: Hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, working in the woods, woodworking and, most of all, enjoying the family camp
Name: Kyle Ellis (running as a write-in candidate)
Age: 32
Family: Wife, Stephani
Education: Attended University of Maine at Farmington, lifetime goal of continuing education
Community service: Member of Wilton Fire Department, 911 addressing officer for Wilton, Appeals Board, town fire warden
Political experience: Executive committee member representative for Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments
Occupation: Dispatcher with Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, previously employed by the town of Wilton in the office, has a small business doing odd jobs
Hobbies or other interests: Outdoors enthusiast, community involvement, gardening, Eagle Scout. “I am committed to family, hard work, creating a wholesome community environment for all to enjoy.”
For school board
Name: Susan A. Black
Age: 52
Family: Husband, Russell Black; four children, Melissa, John, Carrie and James
Education: High school graduate
Community Service: Active member of the East Wilton Union Church, member of the Wilton Republicans, Farm Bureau member, school board member since 1996
Political experience: Franklin County register of deeds, which is an elected position
Occupation: Register of deeds since 1988
Hobbies or other interests: Gardening, stained glass, crocheting, enjoying her grandchildren
Name: Irv Faunce
Age: 59
Family: Wife, Jan Collins; three children with Jan: Kathy, 17, Gordon, 16, and Sasha 14; four other children, who live elsewhere in Maine; and four grandchildren.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English from Colby College, graduate courses in education at the University of Southern Maine
Community service: Alternate for Wilton Planning Board
Political experience: Served nine years on SAD 11 board (Gardiner, West Gardiner, Pittston and Randolph), member of the city council and mayor of Gardiner, served on the Maine Human Rights Commission, served five years on the Maine Board of Environmental Protection after being appointed by Gov. Angus King
Occupation: Director of program operations for Western Maine Community Action, a nonprofit social service agency that serves Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties. Licensed nursing home administrator; former administrator of RiverRidge, a brain injury rehabilitation center in Kennebunk and the Kennebunk Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Developed the Alzheimer’s Care Center in Gardiner, a national model of residential care.
Hobbies or other interests: Running, member of UMF Health and Fitness Center, spinning and other physical fitness activities
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