WATERVILLE — A candidate for Waterville Board of Education in Tuesday’s election says he won’t serve on the board seat if he’s elected.

Joel O. Dyer, 39, of Sterling Street, has been hired to work at Mid-Maine Technical Center, creating a conflict with the elective position. Dyer is listed on the Nov. 8 ballot as a Republican candidate for the school board seat in Ward 5, which now is held by Democrat Tiffany Y. Laliberty, 40, of West River Road. Laliberty is seeking re-election to her seat.

Dyer said Friday afternoon that he accepted the job at the technical center and if elected to the school board, he would not take board spot.

“I had thought that this would possibly happen,” Dyer said, later clarifying that he understood that accepting a position at the technical center would lead to a conflict of interest with his pursuit of the school board seat.

Dyer said he had been looking forward to serving on the board and plans to stay involved in the city as much as possible.

“When I decided to run for school board I had no intentions of leaving my current position of 7 years at AAA NNE,” Dyer said by email Friday evening. “Due to unforeseen circumstances I made the choice to accept my new position with the school system to best suit the needs of my family.”

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The Waterville Board of Education on Wednesday voted to approve Dyer for a job as an educational technician II, or teacher’s aide, at the technical center, located next to the high school. He is to start the job Nov. 14. The board also voted to accept the resignation of Dwight Barron, who previously held that position.

City Clerk Patti Dubois said nothing prohibits Dyer from running for the school board seat, but if he were to be elected to the position and works at the technical center, he would have to give up one or the other, as he could not serve in both positions.

If Dyer were elected and relinquished the school board seat, a special election would have to be held to fill the seat, according to Dubois.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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