FARMINGTON – Candidates for selectmen took questions Monday during a public forum sponsored by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.

Four candidates running for two positions on the board were asked by moderator Roger Lambert what they felt were the biggest issues facing the town and how they would deal with them as well as why taxpayers should vote for them.

Candidate Nancy Porter said the police department’s cramped space and finding the money to build a new station, as well as the Mallett School transition are two major issues facing the town.

Porter claimed she is one of the more conservative spenders who has had to work and can prioritize.

Selectman Jon Bubier believes working with the chamber and other development agencies will help fulfill the need to bring new business and industry to Farmington. The police department station is also an issue that the town will face within the next 10 years, he said.

During this past year serving on the board, Bubier said he asked tough questions and showed that savings can be done in some areas, but it has to start with prioritizing.

Candidate Ryan Morgan said the town needs to look at all options for space requirements as well as the upkeep of town roads. Morgan also believes the town must prioritize its needs.

A broader tax base and more business as well as the police station issue concern candidate Robert Vallette, who said he would bring an analytical approach to problems to help make choices benefiting the entire town.

Bubier, a former neighbor to Mary Wright, who encouraged him to participate in town affairs, owns a convenience store in town and has real estate rental properties, he said. Leadership is the key to run a successful business and town government needs to be run like a business.

He said that rather than whine about how the town is run, he must be willing to participate.

Morgan, who works at Verso Paper and is a U.S. Navy veteran, attends as many selectmen meetings as he can and asks questions.

“I can’t complain if I’m not participating, asking questions and listening,” he said.

He would like to sit on the other side of the table, he added.

Porter, a county resident most of her life, has interest in the area’s history and especially in genealogy. She has learned through her studies about why Farmington is the way it is. With a loss of industry and no increase in the tax base, taxes are left to the people still here, she said mentioning her nature for conservative spending.

Porter believes the role of selectmen requires commitment. She said she has never run away from responsibility and she’s ready to take on the responsibility of the town.

A retired federal employee, Vallette has experience working with budgets and people and believes the area is a great choice for retirees. He believes in long-range budget planning and capital improvement plans that can be better understood by the public. As a selectman he would be willing to work with the Franklin Development Corp. to help bring business to the area, he said.

Asked about the town’s greatest assets: Porter said that it’s environmentally conscious and relatively safe. For Bubier, it’s the people, he said. Morgan believes community involvement and businesses are assets while Vallette sees no one great asset. There’re nice businesses and great recreational opportunities, he said.