Three of the five positions on the Weare Select Board have terms that are expiring this year.
Benson Goodwin is running again for a three-year term on the board. Benji Knapp did not file to rerun for his three-year position, leaving it for Frederick Hippler to take. A one-year seat is open, which incumbent Jack Dearborn is running for along with Courtland Manton.
The Monitor sent questionnaires to all select board and school board candidates running in towns within our coverage area. Goodwin and Hippler did not submit forms upon request.
What is your occupation or experience?
Dearborn: Electrical Engineer, 36 years at BAE Systems leading to a career in systems engineering and project management. I was division director of engineering, division general manager and company and corporate VP. Thirty-six years on Weare’s ZBA, 12 years on finance committee and service to four independent nonprofits. Graduate of Weare High School, NHTI, NH College.
Manton: I grew up building houses and general contracting with my dad. For the last nine years, I have been a machinist making jet engine parts.
Why are you running and what do you see as the most pressing issues in town?
Dearborn: I am running to continue my tenure as Weare selectman and endeavor to leverage the town’s business operations with my leadership, administrative, technical and strategic skill set while treating all people with courtesy, dignity and respect.
The most pressing issues in Weare are: providing more efficient/effective service delivery for the town’s citizens, specifically better implementation for capital asset refresh for existing capital equipment (such as: DPW, Police and EMS vehicles to minimize down time and repair costs), timely replacement of critical protective clothing for Police Department and EMS, incremental improvements to the dated Transfer Station and finding innovative ways to upgrade manual and dated administrative services systems for consistent customer interaction.
Manton: I am running to improve town transparency and communication with the residents, along with improved financial stability. I have watched some of our town meetings and following the discussion is difficult because of how things are presented and how some board members are addressing issues before them. This leads to confusion for the public but also for the general discussion because points need to be repeated multiple times. It muddies the water for what actually is going on and what solutions are available.
What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected?
Dearborn: Continue to my 42 years of community service and commitment to Weare in a meaningful capacity as selectman. To bring my fact-based management approach to determining the root cause of issues and recommending simple, implementable, cost-effective solutions; to incrementally improve the town of Weare’s quality of life for its citizens, provide prompt and cost-effective resolutions to the above highlighted issues; to keep Weare’s rural character; to manage the town’s budget and impact to the town’s portion of the tax rate in a pragmatic and responsible manner. I respectfully ask for your vote as candidate for Weare’s selectman.
Manton: To help bridge the gap between what the town is doing or trying to do and how it is perceived by the residents of the town so that everyone is on the same page. It is totally fine for residents to disagree with the town, but they should be able to do so with accurate and truthful information. I would also like to have a financially stable town that doesn’t run on a shoe string margin so when the unexpected happens, taxes don’t jump around. And I would like to do this through smart decisions on the day-to-day, not by raising taxes.