WELD — Selectman Thomas Skolfield and Anne Holloway are seeking election to a three-year term on the board in Friday’s annual balloting from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Town Office.

Skolfield is a retired state employee; Holloway operates El Toro Mexican Grill, a popular food truck, with Garrett Keim.

Each candidate was given a series of questions to answer by Wednesday, but Skolfield was the only one to respond.

1. Why are you seeking re-election?   

While growing up in this town, I witnessed how folks would step up to do tasks that made this community a great place for folks of all ages to live, work, raise families and call home. While life took me to public service in other parts of our state for many years, Weld was always my home. After retirement almost a decade ago now, I felt it important to take a turn serving  my hometown. I believe I still have something to offer and, with the continued support of my friends and neighbors, I would like to continue serving for three more years.

2.  What do you see as the most important issues facing the town?      

As a rural  community with a number of retired citizens on fixed incomes, we continue to struggle to keep the cost of municipal services affordable. Keeping people in their homes for as long as they wish to remain in them is a matter I take very seriously. We need to maintain a balance between affordability and meeting the needs of our infrastructure requirements. It requires skill, common sense, fairness, forethought and transparency to maintain that balance. We must be as efficient and effective as we possibly can to accomplish our goals.

3. The warrant this year includes articles regarding purchasing or repairing a town tractor. Which option do you recommend and why.     

The road commissioner has requested that the town replace the front-end loader. He brought this concern to the selectmen last fall. Rather than hold a special town meeting, they decided to bring it up at the annual town meeting. The current loader has a number of repair issues that need to be addressed at what appears to be a great deal of expense. Information is provided in the town report so folks can see for themselves what is being presented.

4. What is your opinion on the proposed ordinance regarding retail marijuana establishments and social clubs?     

The people of our state voted to legalize the personal use of marijuana and allow retail sales and social clubs under certain conditions. For over a year the Legislature has been grappling with what those conditions should be. Weld voters put in place a one-year moratorium in order to give the Legislature time to act. So far it has not. We need to decide whether or not to continue with a moratorium on the establishment of retail sales or social clubs or pass an ordinance to prohibit them outright. I am in favor of the latter.

5. Please share a bit of background information.    

After growing up in Weld, I enjoyed a 45-year career with the Maine State Park Service proudly providing stewardship and enforcing laws on publicly owned lands in many areas of our beautiful state. After retirement I was elected to the Board of Selectpersons and have now served two three-year terms. I also have the honor of  serving my second term as state representative to the Maine Legislature from House District 12. I am a board member of the Western Maine Transportation Service, a proud and active member of Mystic Tie Lodge 154 of Masons and hold membership in many nonprofit organizations. My wife, Gordeen, and I have four adult children and eight grandchildren. I have been continuously engaged in public service for over 50 years.

Thomas Skolfield is seeking another three-year term on the Weld Board of Selectmen in Friday’s elections. (Submitted photo)