TURNER — Five candidates are running for two openings on the Board of Selectmen in the election to be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Turner Town Office.

The annual town meeting will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 6, in the Leavitt Area High School cafeteria.

Town Manager Scott LaFlamme urged residents to vote and to participate in the town meeting.

There is only one candidate, incumbent Richard Gross, on the ballot for the single opening on the SAD 52 Board of Directors.

No candidates took out papers for the five openings on the Budget Committee. LaFlamme says these positions are normally filled with write-in candidates.

Selectmen candidates

Ron Harris

“I believe in working hard to do things right, helping others and having fun while doing it,” Harris said. “Because of my 10 years in town government in Turner, I feel I can be a great asset as a selectman.”

He is on the Budget Committee and has served on the Planning Board. He is also very active in the Masons and Shriners, having served in numerous offices and committees.

Harris, who lives with his wife on Upper Street, has been a resident of Turner for 26 years. He is safety manager for K & K Excavation.

Lawrence “Punk” House

House, who is completing his ninth year as a selectman, said, “I have a sincere interest in the history of the town and its future. Turner is a wonderful community that people come to because of its high-quality educational system. It provides an excellent quality of life not found in many other rural areas.”

He currently volunteers at the Turner Food Bank and Clothing Center and has served on numerous town and community committees.

House and his wife have lived in Turner all their lives. They raised six children. He is the retired proprietor of House’s Market.

Dennis Richardson

Richardson, who has served two previous terms as selectman, is active in civic and veterans affairs. He said he would like to thank “all the volunteers and civic groups that work hard to make Turner a place where everyone feels proud of their Town.”

He is particularly concerned with the impact of reduced state revenue sharing on town services and taxes. He said that revenue sharing was part of a deal made between the state and towns years ago. “It would be a miscarriage of trust if the state breaks that promise.”

He is a present or past member of the Masons, Turner Rescue, Sons of the American Legion, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Transfer Committee.

Richardson is a lifelong resident of Turner. He lives with his wife in the same house where he was born and raised. They have four children. He is safety manager with W.D. Matthews Machinery.

Jeffery Stewart

Stewart, who holds a doctorate in developmental psychology from Harvard University said he is “especially interested in how local entrepreneurial energy can be encouraged and supported by governmental, academic and financial partnerships. A town’s future is in its children.

“If you move a town in the direction of opportunity and growth, and at the same time teach the children how to find hope and challenge in an entrepreneurial spirit of discovery, those children will stay in your town and eventually take it places you could only dream about. I am passionate about supporting schools and their work in developing new and helpful curricula to improve the chances for life success for students.”

Stewart has lived in Turner for six years. He said that his partially retired status gives him the time to research issues and discover other possibilities. “I will work tirelessly with those who want to articulate a vision for Turner’s future and start the foundations for that future now.”

Angelo “Terry” Terreri

Terreri has served six years on the Board of Selectmen, the last four as chairman. “I believe I have lived up to my responsibilities to the townspeople of Turner, listening with an open mind and supporting what people feel is in their best interest.”

He said that if he is re-elected, he “will continue to serve Turner’s residents with the utmost respect, with an open mind and with your best interest, financially, and the town’s growth, always first.”

Terreri and his wife, who have two daughters and four grandchildren, lives on Main Street. He is a Navy veteran who is well known in town for portraying Santa Claus at the annual town Christmas tree lighting and other events. He has served on the board of directors of the Turner Athletic Association for 21 years.