MEXICO — The town’s annual election will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, in the Calvin Lyons Meeting Room on the ground floor of the Town Office.

Citizens will vote on the municipal budget, the Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10 budget and will choose two from among five candidates vying to serve on the Board of Selectmen: Arthur Bordeau, George Byam, Randal Canwell, James McDonald and incumbent Peter Merrill. Former board Chairwoman Barbara Laramee will not seek re-election.

Bordeau, 76, served with the U.S. Army 101st Airborne and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Texas University. He has been a high school English teacher, a high school special education teacher, a professional logger, restaurant manager and farmer.

He has served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for 15 years, stepping down when he was diagnosed with cancer, which is now in remission.

He says he is very careful with money and would support the needs of the people of Mexico while keeping the tax base as low as possible.

“We need to be careful not to spend more than we have the financial resources for. I enjoyed working as a selectman in the past and was honored to have the town’s annual report dedicated to me a few years ago.”

“I have several personal qualities that will make me a good selectman, including discipline, being forthright — I speak my mind, but always after carefully thinking first, being a hard worker, caring and honesty.”

Byam, 73, served in the Air Force National Guard where he attained the rank of staff sergeant. He has an associate degree from the University of New Hampshire and has served previously on the Board of Selectmen.

His past employment includes owning a John Deere business and a carpet cleaning business. He began a truck-driving course at Region 9 School of Applied Technology and served as trustee of  the Mexico Congregational Church and was an 11-year volunteer driver for the HOPE Association.

He says he has the experience to be an effective selectman.

“The town is a business, a different type of business but still a business. I see it as our responsibility to provide the people of Mexico with the best possible services at the best possible price.

“One of my greatest achievements, while a former member of the Mexico Board of Selectmen, was to help the town land the $2.9 million road reconstruction project that’s currently under way, at a finance rate of less than 2 percent.”

Canwell, 51, served eight years in the U.S. Navy, four years active duty aboard a fast frigate warship and four years in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He is trained in HTA services, pipefitting, woodworking and ship-fitting.

He has managed a tire business and worked in the painting and remodeling profession. He credits his experience for giving him the ability to adeptly work with budgets and inventories.

He is a member of the Region 9 School of Applied Technology Cooperative Board, a member of the Mexico Budget Committee and Mexico Appeals Committee and a former member of the now-defunct SAD 43 school board.

He said he would work for the best interest of the town and its people.

“I will bring a new perspective and new views to the board. We need to think outside the box if traditional ways aren’t getting things done. We also need to … be able to agree to disagree and put our personal baggage at the door.

“We have to hold onto our tax base. We need to try to do the impossible and try to hold onto what we have without an increase in our taxes.”

McDonald, 50, served nearly 20 years with the Army National Guard doing automobile mechanic training and is a graduate of Mexico High School.

He has served on the Mexico Fire Department for 32 years, has been an auto mechanic for the state of Maine, a Community Recreation Department worker for the town of Rumford and was instrumental in getting a community hockey rink to the area.

He averages more than 400 hours of community service each year and belongs to the local snowmobile club, the Sportsman’s Club of Dixfield and the local ATV club, and is a former member of the Mexico Board of Selectmen.

He says selectmen must be fiscally responsible with town spending.

“We can’t spend more than we can afford to. When it comes to budget spending, we need to do it right by doing the proper prior research and asking the people what they want.”

“Communication is very important. … People need to know how decisions will impact them down the road before the decision is made. I think it would be a good idea to set up some system where we could poll people before important decisions are made.”

“I have lived and worked in this town my whole life. I know how things work here such as the the Fire Department, the Police Department, Public Works and how the budget works. I can put my knowledge to good work serving the people.”

Merrill, 58, served 13 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is a graduate of Lisbon Falls High School. He has worked as a petro-chemical engineer, at Disney Busch Gardens, as a hospital operation director and for Sherwin Williams and is an incumbent selectman.

He says he is responsive to the people of Mexico and always seeks people’s opinions on issues.

“I believe in bringing people together in Mexico, encourage teamwork to accomplish goals. I believe in leaving personal baggage at the door and getting things done.”

“We need to continue to make living here in Mexico affordable to its citizens. We need to continue traditions such as the lawn mower race and the outhouse race to promote community spirit. … If we become a destination for visitors it will bring more small businesses, such as mom and pop enterprises and boost the economy.”

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