PERU — Three people submitted nomination papers April 26 for a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen.
According to Town Clerk Vera Parent, the election will be held Tuesday, June 11.
Those who submitted nomination papers are:
* Ed Ferland, who was one of four selectmen recalled from office on March 4.
* James Pulsifer, who is serving a two-month term and is chairman of the board. he has served in local government since 1975 as a Planning Board member, selectman and on other boards and committees. He also served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
* Kurt Rowley, a social studies teacher at Dirigo High School in Dixfield.
Ferland said Friday afternoon that he is running due to the high taxes of the town.
“We’ve got to get these taxes down because a lot of us are paying way more than we can afford,” Ferland said. “If anything happens to the mill, we’re all going to be in a lot of trouble.”
He said, “It’s not because I’m too crazy about running again, but someone has to sit down and get this thing going.”
Ferland said he believes the new selectmen will be able to bring stability to the town after months of discord on the board.
“I think it would’ve been fine if Kathy (Hussey, former selectman) had just stepped down,” Ferland said. “It was a pretty simple problem that got out of hand.”
The election comes two months after Ferland, Dickie Powell, Tim Holland and Hussey were removed from office by a recall vote of the town. The recall election occurred after Hussey refused to leave her board position or town secretarial position after voters passed an ordinance in November 2012. That ordinance said town employees could not simultaneously hold positions on the Board of Selectmen or Finance Committee.
The Maine Municipal Association advised selectmen last year that Hussey could finish her current term, because there was no effective date listed in the ordinance.
Selectman Laurieann Milligan was the only selectman who was not recalled.
Pulsifer and Rowley could not be reached for comment.
Parent also said Angela Barkhouse and Valerie Taylor submitted nomination papers for the position of board secretary, which is on the June 11 ballot as well.
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