MECHANIC FALLS – Voting booths in the gymnasium at the Mechanic Falls municipal building will remain open for four hours after the end of Saturday’s town meeting or until 6 p.m., whichever is later.

Three candidates are vying for two three-year positions on the Town Council, with incumbents Dan Blanchard and Roger Guptill challenged by former Councilman Richard Wing. Nancy Richard, appointed to the council last fall to replace Marchian Crane, is the only candidate on the ballot for the one-year position, which in essence will fill out Crane’s original three-year term.

Blanchard, 67, is a retired Auburn police officer; part-time fire investigator, liquor and tobacco inspector for the state and charter bus driver.

He attended Lewiston High School and University of Maine Criminal Justice system.

He served on the town council for 12 years and school committee for three years.

He believes the town is on the right path and wants to help keep it on an even keel.

Guptill, 50, has been a furniture builder for Bobby’s Rule for 20 years.

He is a graduate of Mt. Blue High School.

He’s been on the council for six years; Planning Board for six years and Sanitary District trustee for nine years.

He believes that if you don’t get involved, you can’t complain. He’ll listen to concerns, look into matters and see what can or can’t be done.

Wing, 74, is a part-time truck driver who previously worked for Callahan Bros. construction.

He attended schools in Welchville, Oxford and Paris; and obtained his GED after the Korean War.

He’s been a council member for 21 years total; and a volunteer Mechanic Falls Fire Department, 56 years.

He enjoys the town; enjoys the people. He is running for the taxpayers, working to keep costs down, and for town employees, giving them a voice.

Nancy Richard, is branch manager at Camden National Bank in Lewiston, and has 20 years in the banking industry.

She’s a graduate of Mount Blue High School; banking courses at Thomas College.

She’s served on the council since last fall; Budget Committee, three years; is a former Wilton selectman; active in Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.

She has enjoyed her months on the council, hopes she’s making a difference, and has been helping the community.

Three candidates are vying for two three-year positions on the School Committee with incumbents Katie Bryant and Jacques Wiseman being challenged by Melissa Hodgkin. There are no names on the ballot for the single one-year position that will fill out the remainder of the three-year term for the seat vacated last September by Joyce Krane when she and her husband, Marchian, moved to Poland.

Bryant, 29, is a clinical social worker and counselor, child and family therapist at KidsPeace in Lewiston.

She’s a graduate of St. Dominic’s Regional High School; bachelor of science in social and behavioral science and master’s in social work from the University of Southern Maine.

She’s been on the school committee since fall 2007; volunteer soccer and T-ball coach for Mechanic Falls recreation committee programs; will be teaching Sunday School in the fall.

She grew up in Mechanic Falls, wants what’s best for the school that she went to and the school that her two children, a first-grader and a second-grader, now go to.

Hodgkin, 36, is a L.L. Bean customer service representative.

She’s a graduate at Edward Little High School; Central Maine Medical Center School of Radiology, certified in X-ray technology, EMT.

She’s served with Mechanic Falls Rescue since 1990, now captain, and this year joined Mechanic Falls Fire Department; is a member Mechanic Falls Safety Committee and Recreation Committee.

With three children at the Elm Street School, first-, third- and sixth-graders, she wants to keep her eyes and ears on the school; be as much help as she can be.

Wiseman, 41, is a claims adjudicator for the state for 22 years.

He’s a graduate of Edward Little High School and has some college work.

He’s been a school committee member for three years; youth baseball coach, Mechanic Falls Recreation Program; active member Our Lady of Ransom Church.

He’s pleased with the performance of the Elm Street School, academically and otherwise. Believes the kids get an excellent education. His son Jake is a third-grader, and wants to see firm local control continue on.