PARIS — Today voters will get a chance to untie the knot that resulted in a draw between two selectmen candidates last month.

The run-off election between Mike Risica and Zac Creps will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, Thursday, July 23, at the Paris Fire Station, 137 Western Ave.

During the June 9 election, candidates each garnered 163 votes for the three-year seat. Both men said in separate interviews last week that one of the main reasons they’re running is because they want to lower taxes in town.

“I think we need to do it responsibly and not just cut services like my opponent would like to do,” Creps said, noting the key is to bring more businesses to Paris to lower the tax burden by adding to its base. “I put a lot of work into finding different ideas on how to lower taxes. … I’ve been looking into other towns that have been successful in bringing down the mill rate by bringing businesses in town.”

While Risica also champions bringing business to Paris, he believes spending needs to be reined in.

“I am that guy that can say no when it comes to spending money as opposed to my opponent,” he said. “It’s time to consider what we’re spending money on. … I just hope people understand how out of line these taxes are with people’s incomes. We’re an older town, it’s not a well-to-do town. … We got a lot of people that are on assistance. We got a lot of people that are making low wages.”

Risica said money can be saved through the Fire Department, which has its eye on expanding. Instead of hiring full-time employees and paying for wages and benefits like fire officials want, he suggested offering firefighters and EMTs a tax break for working for the town.

Risica also worries about the high cost of fixing stormwater run-off that’s leaking into the sewer system, as required by the state.

“It’s been put off since 2006 and the chickens have come home to roost on that one,” he said. “That’s going to raise the taxes. You have to find a way to not spend money somehow. Everything would be on the table with me unless we’re contractually obligated to it.”

Creps, who volunteers and works per diem for the town’s Fire Department, addressed his opponent’s and Selectman Janet Jamison’s concerns about his candidacy. Before the June 9 election, selectmen were told by the town’s attorney and Maine Municipal Association that Creps wasn’t legally prohibited from running as selectman even though he’s a town employee. Earlier concerns surrounded whether or not this violated town policy and selectmen agreed to revisit the unclear policy after the election.

Risica wondered if Creps would be able to say no to his boss or his boss’s boss, who would be the town manager. Creps said he would have no problem doing that. He said would recuse himself from any matters dealing with the Fire Department.

“Chief (Brad) Frost and I don’t always see eye to eye and I vocalize my opinion when we don’t so it’s no different if I was a selectman and there was an issue I didn’t agree with,” Creps said. “These are my tax dollars, too. I am living on Paris Hill Road. We pay some of the highest taxes in Paris. You would think I want to make sure my taxes stay low.”

He does attend selectmen’s meetings, Creps said, noting he’s been criticized for the way he chooses to serve his town.

“I spend countless hours in the middle of the night when it’s 32 degrees below zero and snowing to help somebody else out,” he said, referring to his work with the Fire Department.

He’s also head of the department’s Fire Prevention Program, working with seniors, schools, daycare centers  and other businesses. Creps initially tried to join the Budget Committee, but his candidacy was put on hold because of his town employment status.

“I saw an opening for selectman and decided to run for selectman. It’s not that I didn’t have the time. I put in an effort to join (the Budget Committee),” Creps said.

“I am not out to bad mouth him, I just think I have the credibility he doesn’t have,” Risica said, noting he’s a current member of the Planning Board and until recently served on the Budget Committee. “I am running because I care about the town. … I see there’s ways to improve the town. I want to be a voice for the people who feel voiceless like that woman, Terry Robinson, at (the Monday, July 13) selectmen’s meeting. She’s my hero.” (See related story on page 3A.)

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