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Name: William Demaray

Address: 36 Sewall St., Livermore Falls

Age: Not available

Occupation: Automotive service manager

Name: Alphonso T. Barker

Address: 295 Leeds Road, Livermore Falls

Age: 24

Occupation: Self-employed

LIVERMORE FALLS — Two selectmen are seeking one, three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. Another resident is running unopposed for a two-year selectman’s seat.

Elections will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, at the town office.

Selectman William “Bill” Demaray is being challenged by Selectman Alphonso Barker, who currently holds a two-year seat.

Resident Jeff Bryant is seeking the two-year term.

Demaray and Barker have different opinions on how to solve an apparent divide between the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.

“The Board of Selectmen needs to meet with the Budget Committee members and find out if they are willing to follow the selectmen’s lead and work with the selectmen not against them,” Demaray said. “If not, then we need to appoint a Budget Committee that will because I feel the Budget Committee is a great asset when they work with the selectmen like they did in the past.”

If re-elected, Demaray said he’ll see that the right people get appointed to the Budget Committee.

Barker believes the Budget Committee should not have to work within the confines of the selectmen’s budget.

“The Budget Committee was established by a town meeting vote and therefore has the support of the residents,” Barker said. “The Budget Committee can be successful if they have political discretion to turn over every rock. The Board of Selectmen needs only to respectfully hear the findings of the Budget Committee and weigh in their opinion.”

Barker said if re-elected, he will “encourage out-of-the-box thinking and more discussion between the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee.”

“The budget process should be worked on year-round instead of hastily composed in two or three months,” he said.

The men also differ in their opinions on what needs to be done to attract businesses and put people back to work since Wausau Paper Mill closed in 2009.

“The town has a lot of tools in order to attract businesses and create economic development, but we are not very proactive in our approach,” Barker said. “The biggest thing that the town and the Board of Selectmen need to focus on is the tax rate. As long as businesses can locate just beyond our boundaries at a fraction of the cost, they will. Our tax rate needs to be competitive.”

Demaray said the new medical center that is being built is a good example of what is being done to help bring businesses to town.

“The services needed to attract new businesses are being kept in place,” Demaray said. “If you don’t have a good police department and public works department the businesses won’t be interested. I have fought to keep the services in town that attract businesses, not chase them away.”

The two candidates believe their listening skills will continue to benefit the board.

“I listen to all the people and try to vote the way they want me to,” Demaray said. “I live in town so I know how important town services are. I am not on the board to see how I can profit in my dealing with the town. I have no hidden reasons for being on the board except what I feel is best for the people of Livermore Falls.”

Demaray said he will continue to try to do what is right.

“I try to be open and above board. I don’t like hidden meetings behind closed doors,” he said. “I feel the people have the right to know everything that goes on with the town. I know who runs the town of Livermore Falls and it’s the people who vote at town meetings and its my job to see their wishes are carried out.”

Barker said he is open-minded.

“I listen to people, encouraging discussions. No matter what, I continue to support doing what is in the best interest of the ratepayers,” Barker said. “The Board of Selectmen need to put staff in the right positions to succeed, continue to hear people, and be a strong steward to the tax dollar.”

dperry@sunjournal.com

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