MANCHESTER — Two veteran town officials face a challenge from a newcomer for two seats on the Manchester Board of Selectmen.

Incumbents Dawn Kliphan and Doug Ide and challenger Charlie Hippler IV are on the ballot for Tuesday’s election, planned for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the fire station.

Kliphan, 62, and Ide, 54, have long records of involvement in town matters, each finishing a second three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. Each also played roles in local government prior to those terms.

Kliphan, who works as a contract and grant specialist for the state of Maine, also served for six years on the Manchester Planning Board.

“I love Manchester. It’s a great town,” she said. “I love being involved, and we’re a good team. We work really well together. I want to help keep the town running smoothly, running within its means. I have a lot of experience. I’ve worked for state government for quite a while. I have a lot of knowledge and I work to see others’ points of view.”

Ide, who works as code enforcement officer and interim city manager in Hallowell, previously served as chairman of Manchester’s Long Range Planning Committee and two terms on the Maranacook school board. He founded and coordinated for many years the Manchester Apple Festival, which he said he plans to restart this year. He also founded and served on the Manchester Conservation Commission, served on the Manchester Architectural Standards Committee and Comprehensive Plan Committee and established a trail network in the Allen-Whitney Memorial Forest that is now maintained by mountain bikers and snowmobilers.

“We have a lot of unfinished work to do,” Ide said. “I’m really interested in improving the livability and walkability of Manchester. I’ve got a lot of experience. I understand municipal government pretty deeply. I’ve been involved in land use and planning for a bunch of years. I’ve really devoted myself to this town, have a good track record of service and want to continue that.”

Hippler, 20, said his youth would be a good addition to town government. He said he would enter the role with a fresh perspective and no grudges or issues he would be seeking to address. He works part time at the parts counter at Motor Supply Co. in Augusta, and is a full-time student at Thomas College in Waterville, where he is entering his senior year and working toward a degree in finance. At Thomas, Hippler has served as a commuter representative to the Thomas College Student Senate.

“I want to bring a little bit of a younger voice to town and to politics in general,” Hippler said. “It’s not my view that the town hasn’t been run good previously. I just believe a fresher, younger perspective would be of value.

“I don’t have any grudges against the town, no issues that really irritate me. I look forward to, if elected, hearing everybody’s input and making the best decision. I just think I’d do a good job.”

Hippler said his top priority as selectman would be keeping town spending in check.

He also said Manchester could improve by ensuring its history and the feel of the town are preserved.

Kliphan said she wants the town to help residents who are struggling to get clean drinking water from their wells, noting many residents have had problems with uranium and arsenic in their wells.

She Manchester would benefit by developing stronger connections between community members and the school system. She encouraged community involvement and finding ways to provide residents access to a beach, even if in another area town.

Ide said his priority is to continue working to improve the walkability of Manchester. He said he has worked with others to create a trail system in town, but he wants to see more sidewalks, partly because with high-traffic roads, including U.S. Route 202 and Route 17, there are not many safe places to walk.

He said he worked to change the town’s tax increment financing plan to allow for funds generated by it to be used to help pay for sidewalks and other improvements to walkability. He said he would like to see safe walk along Route 17. He also said the town’s three major subdivisions need pedestrian connections to the center of town.

He also urged Manchester pass a sign ordinance, which goes to voters Thursday at the annual Town Meeting. He said the ordinance could ban certain signs that distract drivers and create clutter.

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