Each of the three candidates competing for one spot on the West Gardiner Board of Selectmen says he’s the best choice to preserve the small town feel of the West Gardiner they love, even as it continues to grow into a not-so-small town.

Incumbent Selectman Gary Hickey II, 43, a full-time firefighter serving his first term on the board, said things are going pretty well in town but as its population increases, it will need to be careful to ensure its infrastructure can keep up.

“What would I change? Not much, I think we’re a pretty well-oiled machine,” Hickey said. “Some of our biggest challenges kind of fall under the ‘we’ve always done things this way,’ thing. But as the population increases, and development increases, we just need to keep up with our infrastructure, like our transfer station, and be willing and able to handle the growth.”

Rod Moody, 61, who sells auto parts for Motor Supply, and who has never held elected office, said he’s running for change, but change aimed at bringing the town back to be more like it used to be, where people communicate in person, and information comes from the town office, not through social media.

“I would like to get the town back to where it always used to be. I’m not one for social media, and what I’m hearing in town is too much social media is going around, for the town of West Gardiner,” Moody said. “My feeling is it should be up to the town office to put stuff out to the people. The town is being run well right now. I just don’t like a few things that have been happening. I love people, I love talking to people and I try to do everything I can for the people.”

Corey Gero, 48, who owns Water’s Edge Excavation & Construction, manages rental properties and owns a medicinal cannabis retail store in town, Streamside Remedies, said he wants to see West Gardiner go back to being a town where neighbors watch out and take care of each other, and to retain its hometown vibe despite the growth in population in recent years. He has not previously held elected office.

“I want to keep that hometown vibe, the country setting, I don’t want a lot of changes, I want to keep West Gardiner the way it’s always been,” Gero said. “Going back to the way we’ve always been means taking care of each other, watching out for each other, and when we go to town meeting we don’t speak out of turn, and have people calling each other names. I’d like to see us come together.”

Gero said one of the biggest challenges facing West Gardiner is keeping taxes down, especially as West Gardiner’s share of School Administrative District 11 funding increases. He suggested the town work with the other SAD municipalities to try to find a way to lower taxes in the district.

Moody too said keeping taxes low, especially the portion going to fund the school budget, is a challenge facing the town. He said he’d look for budget cuts, but declined to cite specifics. He said he’d work closely with the other two selectmen, Greg Couture and Steve McGee, but wouldn’t be afraid to speak out if he disagreed with them.

Hickey said the town has always been financially responsible. He said the town needs to improve and increase communications with residents and find ways to increase community involvement. He said he’s been very open in his communications with residents, and follows up with them when they ask questions.

In West Gardiner, selectmen are paid $8,000 a year.

Elections are set for June 9 at the fire station at 322 Spears Corner Road, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.