Doug Archer NEW PORTLAND — Two candidates are in the running for one position on New Portland’s Board of Selectmen. Resident Polly MacMichael is challenging incumbent Douglas Archer. Residents can cast their votes Friday, March 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The town meeting will be held Saturday, March 3, at 9 a.m. in the Community Room at the Fire Station.

Doug Archer, board chairman and a threeterm selectman, grew up in New Portland and raised his daughters here. He feels an obligation to help the town prosper. One of the accomplishments Archer cites is that during the last few years selectmen have managed to keep New Portland’s mil rate stable without large increases. He believes the Board has created a responsible budget for the upcoming year by using monies from surplus to reduce or eliminate debt. In tough economic times, he believes his experience will help the town flourish. He welcomes the opportunity to answer questions, and can be reached at 628-2291 or pcdoctor05@tds.net.

Polly MacMichael Challenging Archer is Polly MacMichael, another New Portland native who lives off the grid in a home she built with her husband, Rob. Owner of two small and successful businesses, MacMichael returned to New Portland to be close to her family as well as the beautiful natural resources of the area. MacMichael has a vision for New Portland: to make it a better place to live and to make it more appealing to potential newcomers and businesses. With this vision in mind, she will focus on improving communication, fiscal responsibility, and the physical appearance of the town’s three villages. She believes the town can capitalize on its strengths such as its close proximity to area attractions to make it a healthier town. She can be reached at 399-9246 or at pamacmichael@gmail.com.