RUMFORD – Thursday night’s Meet the Candidates for Tax Collector Forum showcased four candidates for the job being vacated by longtime tax man Carlo Puiia.

Puiia, who moderated the event, will be appointed town manager after municipal balloting on Tuesday, June 9.

John Giambattista, Deborah J. Giasson, Diane E. Paterson and Joseph F. Roberts answered questions related to the job and read statements.

Giambattista, a hardware clerk at Marden’s and former longtime mill worker, said he wanted the job because he enjoys interacting with people.

“Working with people comes easily for me,” he said. “The challenge, really, is to learn tax law, to effectively collect all due taxes in a pleasant and courteous manner and to document all transactions with great attention to detail.”

Giasson, a credit manager for Community Energy who has a bachelor’s degree in business management with a major in accounting, said she wants the job to serve residents in her hometown.

She said she believes her experience has groomed her for the position.

“This is an opportunity to use my education, business experience and customer service skills in a setting that challenges me,” Giasson said. “I truly enjoy interacting and working with the public.”

Paterson described herself as an operations manager for Rumford’s Sears store with more than 25 years of experience handling cash transactions, business and accounting matters.

She wants the job to share with Rumford residents her many years of financial and accounting skills and experiences, along with her communication skills and strong customer service focus of more than 25 years.

“At the same time, I would like to work in a challenging, fast-pace, public service environment that enables me to continue to develop superb, professional knowledge and expertise and to be highly successful at it while at the same time, provide security and stability for my family,” she said.

Roberts said he has served in various Rumford municipal positions and manages Roberts Chiropractic Wellness Care. He is also commander of the 37th Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol in Rumford.

He said he wants the job because he is a team player and believes that all town officials should work together for the good of the town.

“I already have quite a bit of knowledge as to how the town works and functions,” Roberts said. “I think that is very critical for the person in the position of tax collector.”