Residents of Paris and Norway will head to the polls Tuesday, June 13, to elect selectmen and directors for Maine School Administrative District 17.

While all of Norway’s candidates are running unopposed, several in Paris are seeking multiple seats.

Four candidates are running for two open seats on the Paris Select Board. Vice Chairman Scott McElravy is running for reelection. In 2019, he won an open seat to serve the final year of a three-year term, then won a full three-year term a year later.

McElravy said at a recent candidate forum that the current board works well together and has done a good job watching how taxpayers’ dollars are spent on the municipal side of the budget. His major concern is what he describes as the “runaway” MSAD 17 budget, which represents 58% of Paris’ tax dollars. He is hoping to entice other towns in the school district to join Paris selectmen in lowering the school budget increase.

Opposing him are Matthew Bracket, Scott Buffington and Jonathan Longley.

Brackett said he has lived in Paris for the past 20 years and is a member of the Planning Board. He said he is concerned with the school budget, which he described as a “pile of money.” He said he wants to protect the taxpayer.

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Longley is the former fire chief in Paris and has more than three decades working for the department. He is retiring as a fire instructor at Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico.

Longley touted his ability to write grants, which he described as a way to keep property taxes down. The town recently applied for and received three grants, which Longley applauded, but believes more can be done. He said the town needs to be financially responsible and support new and existing businesses.

Incumbent Carlton Sprague is not seeking reelection.

In the race for school director, Ronald Ramsey III, Doreen Simmons, Autumn Stan and incumbent Christie Wessels are vying to fill two available seats.

Troy Ripley, who was appointed to the board last December, is running unopposed for a one-year term.

Paris is also holding elections for two Paris Utility District trustees for three-year terms. Incumbents Matthew Dieterich and Samuel Elliot, and challenger Raymond Lussier are running.

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In Norway, all candidates are unopposed.

For Select Board, incumbents Sarah Carter and Dennise Whitley are seeking reelection.

Incumbent Curtis Cole is the lone candidate for the school board.

Mary DeLano and Deidre Fulton are seeking two seats as trustees of the Norway Memorial Library.

Voting on June 13 will take place at the towns’ fire stations: 137 Western Ave. in Paris and 18 Danforth St. in Norway. Polls are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.


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