PITTSTON — Three candidates are vying for the open seat on the Board of Selectmen, including a former selectwoman who lost in a landslide two months ago, in this year’s town election.
Besides the board race, residents will vote on the Regional School Unit 11 school budget. The election is being held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Town Office.
If approved, the $21.5 million budget for the Gardiner-based school district will increase the revenue raised through local taxes by 1.6 percent in Pittston.
That would mean an increase of $23.95 for a property assessed at $150,000 at a rate of $0.1597 per $1,000 valuation.
Wanda Burns-Macomber, Vicki Kelley and Daniel Myshrall Jr. are facing off for the board seat left vacant after residents voted to recall Ted Sparrow Jr. in April.
Residents petitioned to recall Sparrow, Burns-Macomber and Tim Marks in March after their decision as a board to dismiss the longtime town clerk, Ann Chadwick.
Burns-Macomber lost in an election to Jane Hubert, and Marks resigned. Myshrall lost to newcomer Jean Ambrose in the election for Marks’ seat last month.
Myshrall said he’s running again because he’s been around town politics all of his adult life and thinks he can help the town.
“If you don’t like the way someone is doing something, rather than run your mouth, do something,” he said.
Myshrall said he thinks the board members should act as liaisons between townspeople and the state by voicing residents’ concerns when state laws cause hardships.
Kelley served previously on the school board and other town committees.
“I believe in community service, and I felt it’s a good time,” Kelley said. “We’ve had a lot of difficulties this year, and I thought perhaps I could work to help move us in a positive direction.”
She said she thinks it’s important for board members to remember that they work for the residents, and it’s the residents’ tax dollars that pay for the work the board does.
Burns-Macomber didn’t respond to multiple phone calls seeking comment.
Paul Koenig — 621-5663
pkoenig@mainetoday.com
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