SABATTUS – Some may say that being chairman of the Sabattus Board of Selectmen and the Sabattus Credit Union Board of Trustees while operating a private business could be a bit overwhelming.
But sheriff candidate Guy Desjardins has a different perspective.
“If you want something done, find someone busy and he/she will get it done,” he said, echoing an old saying.
Desjardins won the Democratic nomination for Androscoggin County sheriff Tuesday night. He will have no opponent listed on the November ballot.
He is likely to be the new sheriff while serving out his term as a selectman, but he sees no conflict in serving both town and county.
That was tested at the past two annual town meetings. In 2005, the town asked the county to quote a package that mirrored that of its police department.
The county worked on a proposal all year and presented it during this year’s annual town meeting. Desjardins, who had worked for the county for the past 11 years and previously served as Sabattus police chief for 18 years, urged voters to support its local working police department.
“My position on this issue has been steadfast since Day 1,” he said. “Our community has supported the department for over 30 years now and I see no reason to change. I support the Sabattus Police Department and voted at town meeting accordingly.”
Desjardins said he decided to run for the sheriff’s seat for many of the same reasons that he wanted to be chairman of Board of Selectmen.
“I don’t believe in just being part of something, but rather asking, Can I make a difference?'” he said. “For example, I felt that the length of our selectmen’s meetings were too long. The board was dealing with so many issues.”
To help manage the workload, selectmen adopted a public-friendly workshop system.
“This allows more time for our department heads and members of the community to take care of town business in a more timely fashion,” Desjardins said.
He plans to apply that same energy at the county level, exerting his desire to help change and organize working environments.
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