DURHAM – In the only contest in Friday’s municipal election, outgoing Selectman Daryl Pratt will make his second try at unseating incumbent Road Commissioner Clifton H. Larrabee Sr.
Larrabee, a Durham native and lifelong resident, is completing his 16th year as road commissioner. He succeeded his father, Charles, who was road commissioner for the previous 25 years.
Larrabee pledged to continue his program of upgrading all town roads “to safe and maintainable levels,” which he said would mean maintenance costs for taxpayers.
Larrabee is the owner of Larrabee Construction Inc. He is a member of the Maine Public Works Association, Durham Rod and Gun Club, Lincoln E. Clement Jr. AMVETS Post 13, and is a retired captain of Durham Fire and Rescue. He is married and has two grown children.
Pratt is an outspoken critic of how money is spent on town roads. “For the last 16 years this town of Durham has spent a lot of money on roads,” he said. “It’s time for a change with some accountability. We need to totally restructure our road program; we are not in the 1900s anymore.”
He acknowledged that he wouldn’t save money immediately. “The town has to spend some serious money first,” he said.
Pratt, who is retired, has 11 years of experience in the heavy construction business. Prior to that he owned and operated used auto sales and body shops in Woolwich and Freeport. He is married and has lived in Durham since 1984.
The remaining seats are uncontested:
• Tax Collector and Treasurer Pauline Paradis is seeking re-election.
• Former Selectman Michael VanDerWerf is running for the three-year seat being vacated by Pratt on the Board of Selectmen.
• James Beaulieu is running for a one-year term and Linda Pfaffinger for a three-year term on the School Committee.
• There are three openings on the Budget Committee, but only two candidates, Carol Minnehan-Lee and Jane Rice. The third opening will be filled by write-in votes.
Town meeting will convene 7:45 a.m. Friday at the elementary school gymnasium to elect a moderator, and will then adjourn to the polls, which will b open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The meeting will reconvene at 9 a.m. Saturday at the gymnasium for town meeting on the warrant articles.
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