DIXFIELD – Two residents are running for two open selectmen seats, while only two others are seeking one of three open SAD 21 directors’ seats.
Three people had returned nomination papers for the selectmen’s seats held by Eugene Skibitsky, who chose not to run for another three-year term, and Brenda Turbide, who is running again.
Geoffrey Lowe, the town’s emergency management director, withdrew from the race last week.
Besides Turbide, Brad Dyer, 31, is making a first-time run for elective office.
Dyer believes it is time for fresh blood and a new perspective on the town’s governing board.
He advocates talking with other towns on common issues.
“We don’t do that enough. We refer to the Maine Municipal Association, but not our peers on other boards of selectmen, town managers, town councilmen,” he said.
Dyer is particularly interested in the method used to assess property taxes.
“My feeling is that property tax assessment is convoluted and unbalanced. I’m not necessarily saying taxes should be lowered, but I want a clearer understanding of how taxes are assessed in the town,” he said, adding that he has a great deal of interest in L.D. 1 and how it affects the town, school funding, and tax breaks.
He supports the Fair Tax Bill in the U.S. House and Senate that advocates eliminating the Internal Revenue Service and replacing income taxes with a consumption tax.
During the past few months, he said he has attended several combined meetings of selectmen and the Finance Committee as they built the 2006-07 municipal budget.
He also wants more people to attend selectmen’s and other municipal meetings.
“I want to start talking to people,” he said.
Dyer works for US Cellular. He graduated from Dirigo High School in 1994, and is a former member of the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, and a trail master for the River Valley Riders ATV Club.
He and his wife, Michelle “Mickey” Dyer, are the parents of two young children.
Turbide, 42, is making her first run for a full three-year term. She was elected last year to fill out the remaining year of a term started by former Selectman Steve Donahue.
She has been a member of the town’s Water Advisory Board for five years and is a graduate of Midstate College and a Dirigo High School.
She said her interest in municipal matters encouraged her to seek elective office.
“I had been going to meetings and wanted to contribute my part as a citizen. This year has been a learning experience,” she said.
She believes her strongest asset on the board is policy and procedure.
“Our job is to protect that integrity,” she said.
She wants to maintain the budget and services at current levels, and favors a revaluation of town properties by 2008. She also wants the town to become more efficient.
She is a member of the Dirigo Middle School Boosters, the middle school yearbook committee, and the Recreation Committee.
She and her husband, Steven, are the parents of two children.
Incumbent SAD 21 director Leslie Skibitsky is seeking an additional three-year term, as is newcomer, Melissa Dumeny. Incumbents Sonya Fuller and David Berry aren’t seeking re-election. The third SAD 21 seat may be filled by write-in or by appointment by selectmen.
Voting takes place all day on June 13 at the Dixfield fire station.
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