NEW SHARON — The town of New Sharon will be having its election Friday, March 3, at the town office located on 11 School Ln from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The town meeting will be on the following day Saturday, March 4, at Cape Cod Elementary School, 516 Cape Cod Hill Rd. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.

Chairperson Lorna Nichols of the select board is up for re-election. Originally elected in 2014, Nichols has already completed three terms as select person and, if re-elected, may serve a fourth term.

When asked what drew her to the position, she said that she wanted to be more involved in the community. “I want to help our small town be the best it can be,” she stated in a phone interview.

Nichols involved herself with the community as far back as 2006, where she served as executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce until 2011. Before that, she had worked at Franklin Savings Bank, Western Mountains Financial Services, and the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.

More recently, Nichols also served as town manager for Buckfield from Sep. 2021 to Aug. 2022, departing from the position to serve as the town manager for Belgrade.

Her opponent is Kevin Libby, who is currently a member of the New Sharon Planning Board. Originally from Jay, Libby wants to be an active part of the community and be a part of change within the community.

In a phone interview, Libby stated that he believes in coming to the table with problems with solutions.

“So, if I want to come to the table with problems, I have to be part of that solution,” he stated. “That’s driven me to run for Selectmen.”

One issue that Libby wants to tackle if he were elected is adjusting the pay of selectpersons and reallocating those funds to other community projects, such as the New Sharon Fire and Rescue.

“I would really like to see that money go towards sports for the area kids or to the fire department so they can get better equipment and better training,” he stated.

Outside of politics, Libby is a family man and an avid hunter, as well as a small business owner. His business, called Libby’s Upland Waterfowl, raises mallard ducks to help train dogs in waterfowl hunting.

The other positions up for election are Water District Trustee, Town Clerk and Tax Collector. Pamela Adams is running for both Town Clerk and Tax Collector uncontested. Nathan Bartlett is running for the Water District Trustee uncontested.

For more information on the election and the town meeting, please contact the town office at [207] 778-4046.

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