DIXFIELD — Five people are seeking election to two seats on the Board of Selectmen in municipal elections Tuesday, June 12.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Legion Hall, 23 Main St.

Vying for the three-year terms are former Selectman Scott Belskis, Ricky Davis, Peter Holman, former Selectman Montell “Bummy” Kennedy and Clifford MacDonald.

The seats have been held by Eugene Skibitsky, who decided not to run, and Hart Daley, who resigned earlier this year.

Belskis said he is running “to make sure that people have all the information they need. When sitting there as a selectmen, you are privy to a lot of information that the regular citizen doesn’t have.”

He said, “A lot of people in town have been on either side of different issues. The information needs to be given to everybody of what exactly they are effectively voting on.”

Davis, who is chairman of the Planning Board, said that after three years serving the town, he’s running for selectman because “after getting to know the town a bit, I wanted to try to move up.”

He added, “I’d like to see the town do better than it is. With the school budget the way it is, you can’t keep cutting town services.”

Holman’s decision to run comes after attending board meetings for about four years. “I’ve learned about how the board and town works. What I have to offer is some common sense.”

He said, “With this new valuation that we’ve done, it’s lowered our taxes but jumped our mill rate. I would like to see a smaller school budget if it’s possible.”

Kennedy, who served two terms several years ago, said, “Probably in July, I’m going to be retiring from the school department, so I wanted to get back involved with the town, to give back.”

As a member of the Dixfield Fire Co. and a former member of the Finance Committee, he said he has a lot of experience to offer.

Regarding regionalizing services with other towns, Kennedy said, “It doesn’t seem to be something that people want. They get along well without that. For example, the town’s Fire Department has mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns, which has been a great thing for all involved.”

First-time candidate MacDonald said he decided to run after listening to people’s concerns and complaints about the town budget and because he has the time to devote to the position and to listen to taxpayer concerns.

“We have a lot of older people on fixed incomes. I’d like to see why the taxes are going up; where is the money going,” he said.

bfarrin@sunmedia.com

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