ANDOVER — Jane Rich has announced her candidacy for the District 2 position on the three-member Oxford County Commission.

Rich, the pastor of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Andover since 1991, served in the Oxford County Register of Deeds East Office in Paris for 20 years. Prior to that, she served on the Andover Board of Selectmen for nine years.

She said she is seeking the office of county commissioner because of her long association with county and town governments. She said she believes she has a unique perspective on how county government impacts the local tax commitment.

“I think long-term planning is essential if the rising cost of county government is to be contained and thus give tax relief to both towns and individual taxpayers,” she said.

District 2 comprises Andover, Byron, Canton, Dixfield, Gilead, Hartford, Lincoln Plantation, Magalloway Plantation, Mexico, Newry, Peru, Roxbury, Rumford, Sumner, Upton, Milton Township and Northern Oxford territories.

Rich has been active in a variety of community events, including vice president of the Andover Educational Fund since its beginning in 1987.

She was an original organizer of the town’s annual Olde Home Day, which began in 1980. She chaired the event from 1980-1990.

While involved in numerous civic activities, Rich earned a bachelor’s degree in professional studies from the University of New Hampshire in 1992 and a master’s degree in theological studies from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1999.

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