DRESDEN — A special election is set for Friday to elect a new member of the Dresden Selectboard.

Jeffrey Bickford, Billy-Joe Dupaw and Christopher Cope are vying to replace Gary Getchell as first selectman.

Getchell resigned late last year. The winner will serve the remainder of his term, which runs until June 2027.

Polls will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at Pownalborough Hall at 314 Patterson Road.

The town of 1,700 people has had a busy year. The Dresden Planning Board approved MTN Sand & Gravel’s quarry pit, only to have the Board of Appeals revoke the company’s conditional use license, arguing that a quarry could not operate in a residential zone.

The decision prompted a six-month moratorium for the town to write a new ordinance specific to quarry operations, only for it to be put on halt while the case is reviewed in the Lincoln County Superior Court.

Dupaw, 24, who works at the Dresden Transfer Station, is new to local politics, but said that the town has been involved in “bureaucratic nonsense” with the ongoing legal battle of the quarry pit.

Billy-Joe Dupaw Courtesy of Billy-Joe Dupaw

He wants to see what he can do to help, even if it’s a learning experience for him.

“It was more trying to see what I can get done for the town and what I can do to help,” Dupaw said. “I know I can help move things along.”

Cope, 59, does not have any elected political experience. If elected, he said, he will make decisions with the townspeople in mind, away from his own political beliefs. Cope owns his own business, Maine Handyman, and helps people around town, sometimes for no cost at all if they can’t afford it, he said.

Christopher Cope Courtesy of Christopher Cope

Cope wants to help the town get closer to its goal in expanding broadband internet and be a voice to represent people in town.

“I would like to push harder on the internet access to everyone,” he said. “Dresden is rural. We have a couple main roads but the side ones need attention. I don’t know how to do it, but maybe clear up the powerlines, which seems to be the downfall when we get some wind. We have some elderly people in town and a day without power is one thing, but some of these people can’t go three or four days. There could be an emergency.”

Bickford is no stranger to local politics. Most recently, he lost to Getchell in the 2024 election. He said he wasn’t planning on running again, but decided to when his friends asked if he would.

He represents Dresden on the Regional School Unit 2 board of directors. He is also on the Dresden Board of Appeals, Bridge Academy board of trustees and the town’s Veterans Memorial Committee.

Jeffrey Bickford Courtesy of Jeffrey Bickford

Bickford said he is proud that residents are becoming more involved in town business. When he first started to attend Selectboard meetings, he was one of the only people in attendance, he said. Now, there are around 10-15 people on average that attend regularly.

Bickford would like to increase the town’s spending transparency so residents know where their tax dollars are going.

“Right now we have three categories on the tax bill: the municipality, roads and school budget. Out of those three, the school budget is 69% of what every taxpayer’s money is spent on. That is big, but when you are only concentrating on the town budget when it only makes up literally 30% of the budget, those are issues that we can do a better job at by letting our citizens (know) where (the) majority of their money is being spent,” he said.

If Bickford wins the seat, he will have to resign his spot on the school board and the Dresden Board of Appeals, according to the Maine Municipal Association. He has six months left in his school board term.