NEW GLOUCESTER — Four candidates are vying for two three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen in Tuesday’s elections.

Voters will also elect two SAD 15 directors. Incumbent Alan Rich, board chairman, and newcomer Amy Arata face no opposition.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 11 at the Fire Station on Route 100. Also on the ballot will be the SAD 15 budget for 2013-14.

Steve Libby

Steve Libby, 49, is seeking his sixth term on the Board of Selectmen. He is the current chairman.

For the past 27 years, he has worked to represent “all” the people in New Gloucester, he said in a campaign mailing this week.

Libby said he served his first selectman post in 1990, then served on the Planning Board and Budget Committee before being elected again as selectmen for the past four terms.

“I love to serve the town,” he said.

Libby said he sees keeping a balanced budget with limited dollars the most difficult part of the town’s work ahead. “Each year, it gets a little harder and we have to expand our creativity to do it,” he said. “We need to find a way to expand our tax base versus having a tax increase.”

Also, he said, the board needs to look further ahead at communication with the community.

Libby said the board’s unanimous vote not to hold another town meeting on creating a public water system, which was approved in February, was based on advice from the town attorney. 

Libby is a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono with a degree in civil engineering and owns New Gloucester-based Portland Insulation. He and his wife, Doreen, are the parents Isaac, 7, and Cristina, 6.

Joshue McHenry

Joshua McHenry, 30, is seeking his second term on the board.

A retail merchandiser for L.L. Bean Inc. in Freeport, McHenry earned a bachelor of arts degree with a concentration in government and American studies from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

“I think I bring a unique perspective as a young professional who works outside of town and asks the tough questions on the table so the board can make the best decision possible.

“We need to better communicate on what’s in the budget to the community. We can do a better job,” he said.

McHenry said his top concern is transparency at the board level and to the community.

“I want to encourage appropriate growth as it relates to town finances. We must find a sustainable way to maintain services or expand services to the town towards its organic growth,” he said. “We need policies to make it more attractive to business and new homeowners in the town.”

“I get upset that not everything gets brought to the board,” McHenry said. “The chairman and vice chairman are responsible for scheduling meetings, and the opinions from the chair to the town manager should include input to and from all board members,” he said.

The initial rejection of the public water system project in January and its approval in February shows that government can be responsive, he said.

McHenry and his wife, Meghan, are the parents of a 6-month-old son, Jack.

Stephen Hathorne

Stephen Hathorne, 50, grew up in New Gloucester and has been observing board meetings and attending town meetings regularly.

“In recent times, the board’s view is not supported by the will of the people,” he said.

“The water district project is a big ticket item. This should have been voted on at a referendum to give everyone in town an equal opportunity,” Hathorne said. He was referring to the show-of-hands vote in February.

“It’s been the basic arrogance of the board. I felt no one did listen, our hands were tied and there was no common ground. I wasn’t against the project, but this was shoved at us,” he said.

The Tax Increment Financing account for Pineland Farms seems like a slush fund for selectmen, Hathorne said. “This has come up every year. The (TIF) document was passed a long time ago and it’s not clear to us” what it means.

Last year, Hathorne successfully pushed to have repairs made to the dam at Stevens Brook on Gloucester Hill Road. It’s a favorite fishing spot for youngsters and had nearly dried up.

Hathorne works in the restaurant and hospitality business and runs multiple dining rooms and the beverage department with 30 employees.

“It’s time for a change,” the Gray-New Gloucester High School graduate said. “I want to give voice to the people who aren’t heard. The town needs to take a new breath.”

Gary Sacco

Gary Sacco, 57, full-time chief of the New Gloucester Fire and Rescue Department, is seeking a seat on the board. He said he consulted a private attorney, who told him he can legally serve in both positions, if elected.

“I can easily separate my fire chief duty from that of selectman duty,” he said.

He said he’s running because he believes he can make a difference and wants to represent every point of view in town.

“I don’t believe the board has listened to several groups of people for years. I’m very good at listening to people. I’m all over our town on fire and rescue calls and see what people are going through,” Sacco said.

More information needs to be sent to the community about the town’s operations and issues, either by electronic or print media, he said.

“Being a real community is a must,” he said.

Sacco has 35 years of management experience. He retired as a supervisor at Maine Medical Center’s Engineering Department and was a supervisor with Siemens Building Technologies, working as a project manager of all energy project installations.

He graduated from South Portland High School and participated in several classes at Southern Maine Community College.

He is engaged to be married and has two adult children and several grandchildren.