On the Ballot: Four seek two Bridgton Selectboard seats
Age: 69
Family info: One son.
Work experience: 42 years as a Public Works director; 20 years for the Town of Bridgton.
Hobbies and/or interests: Raced drag cars, hiking, being in the outdoors.
By Wayne E. Rivet
Staff Writer
Four candidates will seek two seats (three-year terms) on the Bridgton Board of Selectmen.
Chairman Lee Eastman will not seek re-election.
Selectwoman Carmen Lone is seeking another term.
Candidates for the position include James W. Kidder, Bernard “Bernie” N. King Jr. and Robert J. McHatton Sr. All three sought a seat on the board in last year’s election with King falling short in a run-off vote against Paul Tworog.
Absentee ballots are now available. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 8, at which time voters will also act on warrant articles via written ballot.
The News posed the following questions to the four candidates.
Why did you decide to run for office?
Kidder: To use my years of municipal experience to move the town forward in a positive direction.
Age: 73
Family info: Born and raised in Maine. Married to Lori; have three children (Anne Adams, Jon King and Meghan Hill).
Work experience: 32 years as police officer with the Town of Bridgton; five years as a police officer in Willimantic, Conn.; four years United States Air Force; two years at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Conn.
Community/civic experience: nine years on SAD 61 School Board with the last three years as chairman; six years on the Bridgton Board of Selectmen, with two years as chairman; coached middle school football; coached 12-U girls’ softball; 1986-2008 participated in Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run and was leg leader.
Hobbies and/or interests: Fishing, hunting and boating.
King: I decided to run for office because I miss being involved in major projects that were started when I was on the Board of Selectmen, such as streetscape, wastewater and Depot Street. I want to be involved again in policy making and the budget.
Lone: Three years ago, I ran for Board of Selectmen because I felt that some of Bridgton was not being represented. I am running for office now to ensure that all of Bridgton continues to be represented. I believe that municipal government works best when the leaders have varied perspectives. I have enjoyed the challenges of municipal government and there are issues that I want to see completed.
McHatton: I have always been interested in the politics of the town, which is why I served 30 years on the Board of Selectmen and why I have been on the Community Development Advisory Committee for the past six years.
What strengths do you feel you would bring to the position?
Kidder: By knowing town budgets and how they work, I won’t need time to learn them but can get down to the matters at hand and help bring my experience to bear in the process.
King: My strength for this position is I am consistent. I do not say one thing and turn around and vote the opposite. I do not have any personal agenda. I make decisions on what is best for the town. I research topics before I vote on them.
Lone: The ability to work with others, listening carefully, knowing the parameters of my position and the desire to serve the people. Running a nonprofit for 18 years requires good budgeting skills. I believe it is important to keep living and doing business in Bridgton affordable.
McHatton: I bring almost 40 years of experiences with working with town committees, and MMA, town’s attorneys and seven town managers — a lot of history.
When faced with difficult decisions, what is your approach?
Age: 69 years young
Family info: Born and raised in Casco with three older and remarkable siblings. My parents, Bob and Corinne Edes, were of the WWII generation and were always involved in Scouts, American Legion, church, schools, and town government. I like to say that I am five generations Maine-iac. Casco, Naples and Bridgton have been my home. Own a home in Bridgton shared with my daughter and grandson. I like it here! Community/civic experience: Community and civic experience have always been a part of my life. In Girl Scouts and church youth group, there were a lot of community projects and baking birthday cakes for the elderly. My father would make a family outing of placing flags for Memorial Day for the American Legion. Things were not as organized in the ole days. If you saw something that needed to be done, find some friends and do it. Seems like we were always pitching in on something. On a more adult level, I have spent the last 18 years at the Bridgton Community Center, where everything is about community, and 13 years in the Bridgton-Lakes Region Rotary Club where “service above self” is the order of the day. Serving the citizens on the Select Board for the past three years has been a rewarding experience. The Bridgton Lions Club named me as the first recipient of the Al Glover Leadership Award. Having worked with Mr. Glover, this is a real honor.
Hobbies and/or interests: Sadly, I have no creative talent. However, I am a great appreciator of other people’s talents. Turning stones into inspirational messages, metal debris into sculpture, bits of fabric into quilts, miscellaneous paint into murals, words into novels; it all amazes me. It would be hard to find anything more interesting than the entrepreneurial spirit. My interest is people. People from our past, our present and the journey that made us who we are. Where are we headed and why are we going to Mars?
Kidder: Research, research, don’t make an off the cuff decision but take the time to get the facts and then make a decision.
King: When faced with difficult decisions, I look at the pros and cons, legal issues, present policies and vote what is best for the town.
Lone: Gather information, ask questions, consider the consequences, be as fair as possible.
McHatton: I like to gather as much information on the subject and then make the decision that is in the best interest for the town of Bridgton.
Name three major concerns you have regarding the town, explain and possible solutions?
Kidder: I feel there are a lot of things that need to be addressed, from a rec center to meet the needs of all ages, not only for indoor programs but also for outside programs; broadband which is in the works but needs to be kept in the forefront; jobs for the next generation, as well as training for the jobs; places to live and eat, all of which contribute to a strong tax base for our town and the school system. We need to make Bridgton a destination, a place to want to live and raise a family, not just a place to stop and go.
King: Three major concerns I have regarding the town are:
The wastewater system completed and up and running. The solution is to let the process continue to make sure it is done right;
Economy. Need to get more businesses in town, not like Windham, however, or big box stores like Walmart. The solution is getting the wastewater system completed so we can have more businesses come in because right now, we can’t under the present wastewater system, which brings me to the following issue;
Taxes. We need to bring taxes down. The solution is to have more businesses come in that would bring down property taxes. We also need to look at department budgets more closely.
Lone: Equity, Character, Infrastructure. Can we maintain balance between growth and the character of Bridgton? We need to stimulate healthy growth while keeping the budget balanced. We need to evaluate investment in town infrastructure (transfer station, fire, police, municipal services, rec and social services). Assure that our ordinances serve the health, safety and welfare of the town and prioritize projects with a critical eye and community involvement and plan for the future of our town.
McHatton: Complete Main Street — Main Street crosswalks were damaged over the winter and need repairs. Are we looking at the same problem year after year or should the Board of Selectmen replace the red and white materials now and have the road company pay the bill?
The new sewer system — this is not a problem, it needs to be completed and then to make sure that the new operation system gets up and running without problems
Planning Board — It’s not the Planning Board members that are the problem, it’s the procedure that applicants must complete before they can get a permit, it can take months. I would like to work with the Planning Board to see if the procedure can be stream lined to cut the time it takes for applicants to get a permit.
Age: 78, retired
Work experience: Owned McHatton Cleaning Service for 25 years; managed Bridgton Pharmacy for 17 years.
Community/civic experience: Boat inspection for Lakes Environmental Association.
Hobbies and/or interests: Golf, fishing, poultry shows.
Finally, if a person was to ask, “Why should I vote for you?” how would you answer?
Kidder: I hope people will see that my years as a department head in municipal government will be a benefit to achieving the issues that will come before the board in the years ahead and will vote for me to help move the town in a positive direction in the future, for all.
King: I would tell people who ask why they should vote for me is I thought I did a good job when I was on the board before for six years. The only reason I did not run for re-election when my last term expired was for personal family reasons. I am very conscientious in policy making, budget, taxes and voters’ concerns. I look at issues in different ways to see which way would be the best avenue to go to benefit the town as a whole and not any special group or organization. I want to be involved again in town issues.
Lone: I am fair. I am experienced. I am honest. My goal will always be a better Bridgton for everyone.
McHatton: I have all most 40 years working with town government. I can use that experience to work with the town manager to provide the best services at an affordable mill rate.
