WILTON — Residents will elect a Regional School Unit 9 director and a selectperson on Tuesday, June 8, at the town office on 158 Weld Road. Evret Greer and current Selectperson Phil Hilton are running for a three-year term on the town’s Select Board.
Greer grew up in Livermore Falls and said that his family was always drawn to Wilton for its various community outlets.
“Whether it be swimming at Kineowatha Park, bowling at Meadow Lanes, ice cream at Dutch Treat, or enjoying seasonal change with the Blueberry Festival, there was always something going on that drew my family to this area,” Greer wrote in an email.
He now wants to serve Wilton after a long-time interest of participating in politics.
“The military helped me get out of Maine, but life brought me back. Before coming back, there was a feeling of a calling towards politics,” Greer said. “I have been on the Wilton Finance Committee for three years and would like the opportunity to serve the community in a higher capacity.”
Greer said that he will be applying past life and work experiences to assist him in serving on the town’s Select Board.
“Like many people, life has given us moments of triumphs and defeats, happiness and depression, love and hate. Through all of these a person has the ability to become something great, or something tragic. Fortunately, the experiences that I have had have given me strength and courage to fight back against the forces of the odds,” Greer wrote.
“Growing up I was in Civil Air Patrol learning respect, discipline, leadership, and followership. As I became an adult, I learned the hard truths about consequences to your actions. I have had so many personal experiences that allow the opportunity to be humble, patient, understanding, and confident. I live my life with the ideology that the truth can hurt, but it can also set you free,” he said.
Hilton has been on Wilton’s Select Board for the past three years during which he has also served on the Roads, Public Safety and Broadband Committees, and assisted with the selection of the town’s new town attorney.
“I’m happy to serve another term because there is still work to be done which I am well suited for. As we navigate the conclusion of the pandemic and an end to the restrictions that came with it, I believe it is important to have leadership in place that is familiar with the details of how and why they came to be,” Hilton wrote in an email.
Hilton said that if reelected, he wants to continue his work with the broadband committee.
“Looking ahead, I expect to continue to serve on both the Public Safety and Broadband Committees, as well as others as needs arise,” he wrote. “The Broadband Committee is one where my experience as both an IT Consultant and software developer is of particular value to help ensure that Wilton’s best interests are well represented in those projects moving forward. Parts of town are still very much in the dark when it comes to high speed internet, and if Wilton is to remain an attractive location to both families and businesses then that needs to be addressed soon.”
Greer said that he has no specific agenda to bring to the Select Board other than ensuring that Wilton prospers through changes.
“At this level, there is no agenda to push. However, if elected, protecting our rights at a local level is imperative to a free society,” Greer wrote. “As time goes on in the position, I am positive that projects will come, advancements will need met, and times will change. Ensuring that Wilton prospers through those changes will be my goal as a Selectboard Member.”
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.