Three run for two selectmen seats

Kingfield


KINGFIELD — There are three individuals running for two three-year terms on the board of selectmen with voting taking place at the Kingfield town meeting June 15. Brad Orbeton is running along with incumbents Heather Moody and Raymond Meldrum.

Orbeton has been a Kingfield resident since 1962 and has held many positions within the town. He was the sexton for 14 years and the animal control officer for two. He is currently on the planning board and the budget committee. He volunteers for the Gap program, donates his time to the Methodist church and to the annual food drive held by the U.S. Postal Service; which he has worked for in Phillips for 16 years.

He believes that the variety of positions he has held for the town gives him knowledge about situations that may arise as a selectman. Orbeton credits his late mother, longtime town clerk Jean Orbeton, with his knowledge of events that have happened in the past and how they were handled.

“I want to serve on the board because I feel I can, hopefully, impact the way the town of Kingfield is headed. I will try to do my best to let people stay in their homes and not be taxed out of them,” Orbeton states.

Moody, who has been a Kingfield resident since 1970, has served on the board of selectmen for 12 years. In her tenure she has seen the Poland Spring bottling plant built, which brought jobs and money to the town; the new playground at the town office, acquiring the ball field and raising the number of members on the board from three to five. “The wastewater department has an actual budget and is selfsustaining. We have combined the wastewater, public works and cemetery departments to save the town money,” stated Moody.

Moody states that helping citizens solve problems, improve their situations and better the community is the best part of serving on the board. She feels that it is her job as an American to be actively involved in her community as well as being interested in what happens here, now and in the future.

She feels her strengths to the town include a great rapport with most townspeople. “I am able to listen, understand and adjust whenever the situation calls for it. I also understand that sometimes a decision for the greater good is not always personally best for me, but it is my job as a selectman to put the community first.”

Meldrum, a lifelong resident of Kingfield, agrees that combining departments to make better use of manpower and equipment has been more cost efficient and strengthened the work force at the same time. “We also have moved to single sort at the transfer station, reducing costs and making the experience of waste disposal much more pleasant for the residents.”

Meldrum, who is finishing his first three-year term, enjoys being on the board of selectmen, “I find I enjoy the roll of selectman by interacting with the residents on a one-to-one basis as well as by being a part of decision making that I feel would best suit the needs of the residents.”

With free time, Meldrum believes he can continue to be an asset to the board. “We have established a very good rapport that takes time to establish. We have accomplished several jobs that have been hanging for years.”

Also, Kingfield’s three-year seat on the school board is up for vote. Incumbent Judy Dill and Beth Luce, both of Kingfield, are vying for this position.

Kingfield town meeting takes place at the Kingfield Elementary School June 15 at 9 a.m. “I hope there is a strong turnout for the town meeting,” states Meldrum, “It is now held during a much more favorable time of year and is the best chance for the citizens to come forth to make their wishes known.”



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