Besides voting on budgets, residents of Mexico and Dixfield will elect selectmen when they go to the polls Tuesday, June 13.

In Mexico, there are two seats open and three candidates: incumbent Clifford Stewart, former Selectman Marc Dupuis and Thomas “T.J.” Williams.

Stewart said he’s running because he wants to find ways to bring more revenue to the town.

“Taxes in Mexico are higher than they should be. We need to find ways to reduce the tax burden,” he said.

In the time he has served on the board, he said, “I was amazed by the lack of residents at meetings which affect them. How do we increase taxpayer participation in local government?” he asked.

Stewart said the use of social media, including the town’s website, might serve as a low-cost way to get the information to the public, while at the same time, encouraging them to get involved.

He said town government also needs to do a better job at explaining to the public how municipal funds are being spent.

Dupuis, who served one term on the board the 1990s, said there’s at least a couple of concerns with the community that prompted him to run again.

“Right now, our town is getting so bad. It’s got all kinds of houses that are repossessed, bank owned, and people aren’t taking care of their property,” he said.

“I’d like to see the town cleaned up and these junk vehicles that aren’t registered taken care of. You come into town by Walmart and there’s junk all over the place,” he said.

Dupuis said the town needs to establish new ordinances to help clean up the town, and enforce those ordinances. “People need to take pride in their real estate and their property.”

He said another issue are the problems created by stray cats. “Again, there’s no ordinances for cats,” he said.

Williams said he’s been thinking about running for selectman the past couple of years and now has the time to serve. He has leadership experience from high school and college student government, he said.

Having been involved with the Mexico Recreation Center and the town’s Budget Committee, he said he wants to “create positive change in a positive way.”

Williams, who prides himself on his enthusiasm, said he wants to see more engagement by younger people with the town.

And with the Mexico Recreation Center, he said, “I see so much potential. These programs are essential to get younger people involved.”

In Dixfield, there is one open seat on the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Norm Mitchell is being challenged by Benjamin Welch, a write-in candidate.

Mitchell, manager of the Tractor Supply in Rumford, said his first term has been informative.

“I’m very proud that taxes in Dixfield have gone down every year I’ve been selectman,” he said.

A reason he wants another term: “We need selectmen that really pay attention and are concerned with spending in the town.”

Mitchell said he has a long history of public service, beginning with service on the Planning Board in 1994, as well as the Finance Committee and Beautification Committee.

Regarding the wind farm issue, Mitchell said, “I guess you could say I’m against wind energy, but not really. I’m more pro-people.”

“I would think that if somebody wanted to pump sound levels over my property, over my back yard, and measure the sound levels at my house instead of my property line, I think it’s unfair,” he said.

“You’re looking at taking my property and not compensating me for it. The people who live on the Common Road should have a right to the full enjoyment of their property. And if they choose not to have the full enjoyment of their property, it should be up to them to negotiate with the wind developer,” Mitchell said.

He said if the state highway takes a property owner’s lawn, they pay them for it.

“When you talk about measuring sound levels at residences instead of property lines, you’re allowing them to use their property without compensating them for it,” Mitchell said.

“If my son wanted to build a house behind me, he can’t do that 20 years from now because the sound levels are too high. You’ve taken my property from me. I don’t understand why the people in the village or anywhere else in town are not willing to stick up for their neighbor’s property rights,” he said.

Meanwhile, Welch, owner of Addin’ Rings Tree Farm, wants new clean and green businesses for Dixfield, including wind turbines.

“I’ve run into quite a few people who don’t like the way our taxes are going and I think we need more assets to tax,” he said, adding, it certainly helps to pay for the local share of the school budget.

Welch said he feels the town is not running as efficiently as it should. “We should be trying to get more industry in; more economic development,” he said.

He said wind turbines are not a blight to our mountains but a sign of our ability to develop renewable carbon-free power and maybe let the sun shine again.

“I believe that carbon in our atmosphere traps heat, evaporates more water and causes a cooling effect in Maine,” he said.

“It has not been the greatest spring this year. Our winters are warmer with more snow and our falls and springs are wetter with less sunshine. Hopefully this is only a temporary thing. But I am afraid of putting more carbon into the atmosphere,” he said.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net