LIVERMORE — Three people are running for two selectperson seats in the June 13 elections.
Voters will cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Town Office Complex.
Raymond Castonguay and Scott Richmond are vying for the seat held by Timothy Kachnovich. The term is for three years.
Selectman William “Tom” Gould is running unopposed for a two-year term. He was elected two years ago.
Each of the candidates was asked why they decided to seek the position.
“I decided to do my part in helping the town of Livermore to keep the taxes as low as possible while still moving forward with capital projects like fixing and improving our roads and upgrading our road service equipment,” Castonguay said.
Richmond said town politics has been a part of his life since he was a child. His father was very active and always encouraged him to be.
Richmond is a captain in the Livermore Fire Department, serving for 27 years.
“Now seems like the right time for me to step up and help the town out,” he said.
Gould said Livermore is a great community to live in. “I wanted to give some time back to a community that has been so supportive of my family and me. It has been a pleasure to help where I can and look forward to assisting in the future,” he said.
Each candidate was asked to name the most pressing issue or issues facing the town.
Voter turnout and the condition of some roads were identified by Castonguay. He said more effort is needed to get people to vote. Some roads are really abysmal, he added.
Castonguay said another issue is having the town meetings on a weeknight. He would like to see them return to Saturday morning.
“We are a bedroom community and many people work as truck drivers, welders, construction workers, and can’t make a weeknight meeting. They should have the opportunity to have their voice heard. Also many people leave for work early in the morning and the 2016 town meeting went until 11:40 p.m. as I remember it. That’s too late for many people, so they just don’t go or they leave early,” he said.
Richmond said mill closings and their effect on taxes and the school budget is an issue. Another is town roads.
“With over 40 miles of roads in town and the shape that they are in, we need to come up with a long-term plan,” he said.
Gould said Livermore is in good financial shape, but economic problems in surrounding communities will have an unfavorable influence.
“I believe we need to prepare for difficult times by reducing debt and developing a long-term plan for town infrastructure, which would largely depend upon developing a better system for maintaining our roads over the long haul,” Gould said.
The candidates were asked about their work experience and other leadership positions that might be a benefit if elected.
Castonguay has worked with multiple pieces of construction equipment and been a diesel mechanic. He owned a trucking company.
“I know about trucks and equipment, what the road crew needs to do their job. I am familiar with deadlines and budgets,” Castonguay said.
Richmond began working on his uncle’s farm on Richmond Hill when he was 8. He worked at Shaws in Auburn for six years. For the past 22 years he has been with Pioneer Plastics in Auburn, currently working in the screen print department.
“I learned to work as a team to come up with solutions to a variety problems and achieve a positive outcome,” Richmond said.
Gould worked in the Merchant Marines for 25 years, the last 15 as the chief engineer. He gained experience managing personnel, maintenance and operational budgets. Challenges faced during good and bad economic cycles provided him with a wide range of management skills.”
“I was the senior technical manager for a multimillion dollar fiber optic cable installation and maintenance vessel,” he said “This gave me the opportunity to lead a large team of multinational engineers responsible for all aspects of budgeting, operating and maintaining a floating industrial plant.”
The candidates were asked how they would balance the need for quality education with the ever increasing costs.
Castonguay said there are no easy answers with the state trying to cut more and more funding, Livermore’s valuation growing larger while Jay’s and Livermore Falls’ valuation shrinks.
“It really is a quandary. I think this goes back to getting more people to vote and getting more people involved. I definitely will be attending school board meetings more often because these issues are going to affect our tax rate in a big way,” Castonguay said.
Richmond said, “Education is important and needs to be a priority while still keeping cost in check so as to not burden the tax payers too greatly.”
Gould said the cost of the school system is becoming overwhelming, consuming 64 cents of every tax dollar, with another increase scheduled.
He said the consolidation was supposed to reduce administration costs but while the number of students is significantly reduced, there does not appear to be a corresponding reduction in administration.
“Tougher decisions are going to need to be made. We need to support our school board and encourage them to make tough administrative or other reductions so that we can avoid cutting programs that are working and beneficial to the students,” Gould said.
Castonguay said he considers himself a good listener. Those with concerns about what’s going on with town business should go to meetings and make their voices heard, he said.
“If you vote for me, I will be there to hear your voice and be your representative,” Castonguay said.
“I am committed to serving the best interest of this great community,” Richmond said.
Gould said he is a strong proponent of equitable treatment and not afraid to make difficult decisions to help the town weather potential hard economic times ahead.
“I will work hard to ensure that town business is run in a fair and principled manner,” he said.
Castonguay and his wife Josee have been married for almost 24 years. They have four children.
Richmond is a lifelong resident of Livermore and a 1991 graduate of Livermore Falls High School. He lives on Bartlett Pond Road.
Gould, his wife, Diane, and three sons moved to Round Pond Road in 2005 to be closer to her family while he was at sea. She was killed in an automobile accident in January 2015.
pharnden@sunmediagroup.net
Raymond Castonguay is running for a 3-year position on the Livermore Board of Selectpersons. Voting is Tuesday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Office Complex.
Scott Richmond is seeking election for a 3-year term on the Livermore Board of Selectpersons.
Incumbent William “Tom” Gould is running unopposed for another 2-year term on the Livermore Board of Selectpersons.
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