Lee Select Board candidates emerge

LEE – Three candidates have announced they are running for the Lee Board of Selectmen in the upcoming April 30 election.

Incumbent selectwoman and current chair of the Board of Selectmen, Patricia Carlino; town meeting representative Anne Tourville Langlais; and Lee Energy Efficiency Committee Chairman Thomas Wickham are all running for a three-year term on the select board.

“I’ve been thinking about it for awhile,” said Ms. Langlais, when asked by The Beacon when she’d decided to run.

Ms. Langlais is the owner of the shop Hats and Jewels and raises five children with her husband, Michael. She previously owned the consignment shop Wares and What-nots, which she said she closed down in order to be able to dedicate a sufficient amount of time to the position of selectwoman, should she get elected.

Ms. Langlais currently serves as one of Lee’s 54 elected town meeting representatives.

In a statement provided to The Beacon, Ms. Langlais said: “Our town needs economic development that wouldn’t harm its charm and beauty.”

She also cited the importance of public participation and transparency in government and pledged to be an accessible selectwoman.

“Obviously we need some economic growth,” said Ms. Langlais, when asked what her priorities would be if elected. “It’s important to have fresh ideas.”

She also said she was a believer in term limits, and although she wouldn’t seek to impose them on others, she would personally abide by them: “If I can’t get a job done within a two-term [period], for myself personally, I would step away.”

Ms. Langlais is running as an independent, as she is of undeclared party registration, but added: “I’m definitely [of] Democratic mind, body, spirit, full believer in democracy.”

A government banking officer at TD Bank, five-term selectwoman and current chair of the Lee Board of Selectmen, Ms. Carlino is running for reelection in part to complete some unfinished business.

“There’s just a few things still outstanding I’d like to see completed,” said Chairwoman Carlino in comments to The Beacon, citing the Rest of the River PCB clean up project and the finishing of Lee’s solar array as two such projects.

“I’m just going in with my past record,” said Chairwoman Carlino when asked if she was running with any particular strategy in mind. “I try to be open minded, I try to represent the whole town.”

She also said being a selectwoman continued to bring her joy.

“I still enjoy it,” said the chairwoman. “I still enjoy it immensely.”

Chairwoman Carlino will also be enjoying the support of the Lee Democratic town caucus in her re-election campaign, as she won the caucus’ support at its March 22 meeting and is the only Democrat running for selectman this year.

Thomas Wickham is a self-employed master carpenter and currently serves as the chair of the Lee Energy Efficiency Committee and as a member of the Planning Board.

One of the most vocal supporters of bringing alternative energy to Lee, he helped shepherd through the municipal solar project approved at Lee’s Town Meeting last year.

“I decided to run because…it’s just time for a change,” said Mr. Wickham, in comments to The Beacon. “I feel like I can help the town.”

Mr. Wickham is campaigning on a platform of fiscal responsibility, but says he won’t guarantee residents jobs or reduced taxes if they elect him.

“While I can’t promise new jobs or lower taxes, I can promise you I will work hard every day to ensure the town remains a vibrant and successful location for our residents and business owners,” Mr. Wickham said in a statement released to The Beacon. “I’d just like to see us be more careful with our tax dollars.”

“I’m not going to criticize anybody,” said Mr. Wickham when asked how he would run his campaign, adding he commended anyone willing to run for public office.

He also expressed appreciation for Selectwoman Carlino’s service: “I respect Patty’s 15 years of service, but it’s time for a change.”

When asked about his advocacy for alternative energy in Lee, Mr. Wickham said he continued to support the United States having a mix of alternative and conventional ways of producing electricity.

“I’m not going to come off of that stance [supporting alternative energy] for sure,” said Mr. Wickham. “The silent majority understand that we just can’t go on polluting this land.”

Mr. Wickham is a Republican and recieved the support of the Lee Republican Caucus at its March 22 meeting.

“I was on the ballot whether I got the Republican nomination or not,” said Mr. Wickham, who also qualified by collecting signatures.

“I don’t really think it’s going to affect my chances at all,” said Mr. Wickham, when asked about the prospect of running as a Republican in an area as heavily Democratic as Lee. “I’m hoping to pull the independent vote.”

He also noted that he’d been registered as a Democrat for 10 years, an Independent for 12 and a Republican for 12, and he added he thought the Democrats did have some good ideas.

“Tell the truth, believe in what I say and try to help,” said Mr. Wickham, giving his public service philosophy.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on March 28, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry