Contested races are underway in seven Oxford County towns that will hold municipal elections in June and August.

Oxford

In Oxford, five are contending for two seats on the Board of Selectmen.

Incumbent Scott Owens is being challenged by former chairman and longtime Selectman Floyd Thayer, Mark Blaquiere, Dana Dillingham and Joan Quinn, according to Town Clerk Sheila Cole.

Thayer was ousted last year by outgoing Fire Chief Scott Hunter. Quinn also was unsuccessful in her campaign for a seat on the Board of Selectmen last year.

James Goforth, who was first elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2007, chose not to seek re-election this year.

Oxford Water District Trustee Thomas Kennison is seeking re-election, as are longtime School Administrative District 17 Director Ron Kugell and Director Stacia Cordwell.

Elections will be held June 14.

Paris

In Paris, three candidates are vying for two selectman seats. Business owner Scott Buffington, Budget Committee member Rick Little and electrician Chris Summers are each seeking a three-year term on the board.

Sam Elliot and Robert Wessels opted to not seek re-election. Both were elected in the summer of 2012 to fill vacancies and were re-elected in 2013, according to Town Clerk Liz Knox.

Also in Paris, SAD 17 Director Bob Jewell is running unopposed for a three-year term. Paris Utility District Trustee Garrick Frost is seeking re-election to another three-year seat and has no challenger. Frost was elected a trustee in 2013.

Elections will be held June 14.

Norway

A four-way race for two seats on the Norway Board of Selectmen has developed.

Two-term Selectman Mike Twitchell announced in February that he will not seek a third term, but instead is looking to unseat state Rep. Tom Winsor, R-Norway.

Selectman Bruce Cook is seeking a third term. He was first elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2013.

He will be challenged by library trustee Thomas Curtis, Allan Moone and Corey Roberge, who returned nomination papers for the two open seats.

Donald Ware said he will seek another three-year term on the SAD 17 board of directors. He filled an unexpired term in 2005 and was elected to a three-year term in 2007.

The second open seat is that of Don Gouin, who died Jan. 13. Michael Marshall has taken out papers for the one-year term.

The terms of three members of the Norway Memorial Library board of trustees expire this year: David E. Wilson, Thomas H. Curtis and Doris Ray. Curtis and Wilson are seeking re-election. A third candidate is Jan Cardoza.

Elections will be held June 14.

 Harrison

In Harrison, Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Kathy Laplante has chosen end her run that began in 2000. She could be replaced by her husband, Raymond Laplante, who is seeking the three-year term.

Also vying for the seat is Imelda Harris, who was one of several candidates who ran for selectman last year, but was defeated.

There are two three-year seats on the Planning Board that have “no takers,” Town Clerk Melissa St. John said.

Longtime Appeals Board member Douglas Wall is running unopposed for a five-year term. Another three-year term is up for grabs, but no one is seeking it.

SAD 17 Director Ann Macro opted to not run again. Robert Celeste is the only candidate for the three-year seat.

Elections will be held June 14.

Buckfield

In Buckfield, two people are looking to serve as selectman and assessor for three years. They are Board of Selectman Chairwoman Cheryl Coffman, who is seeking her second term, and Michael Iveson.

Iveson serves on the Budget and Economic Development committees and the Planning Board. If he is elected selectman and assessor, he would have to resign from the other three boards, Town Manager Cindy Dunn said.

Michelle Casey has taken out nomination papers for a three-year term on the Regional School Unit 10 board.

Elections will be held June 14.

Hartford

In Hartford, Town Clerk Lianne Bedard is not seeking re-election for town clerk, treasurer and tax collector, positions she has held for the past 16 years. She has taken a full-time job with the U.S. Postal Service.

Vying for the three-year positions are Deputy Clerk and Deputy Treasurer Barbara Murphy, and Elizabeth Plumley. Plumley has previously served as deputy clerk, according to Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Lee Holman.

Selectman Peg Poskus is unopposed for another three-year term.

Elections will be held June 14. 

Sumner

In Sumner, nomination papers for municipal officers have been available since Friday, May 13, and must be returned to the Town Office by Wednesday, June 22.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Wally Litchfield’s three-year term is up, as is Road Commissioner James Keach’s one-year term. Also up for grabs is Regional School Unit 10 board member Martha Hinshaw-Sheldon’s seat, which is for three years.

Sumner’s annual town meeting is at 9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 6, at Hartford/Sumner Elementary School, 145 Main St.

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