An asphalt plant and quarry proposed on Mosher Road by Shaw Brothers Construction Inc. has spurred interest in the Gorham Town Council race, accounting for the largest number of candidates in many years.

Town Clerk Christina Silberman said eight candidates, including three incumbents, are seeking three-year terms. Incumbents Norm Justice, Burleigh Loveitt and Phil Dugas are being challenged by Matt Robinson, Phil Csoros, Dave Homa, Noah Miner and Russell Sprague.

The municipal election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The Shaw Brothers Contruction Inc. project is in the hands of the town planning board, and a former town councilor sees only a remote chance that the council could impact the outcome of the proposed asphalt plant.

“The makeup of the council should have no impact on the planning board decision unless the planners can put off the decision until after March, when new members will be appointed to the planning board,” observed Cal Hamblen, a longtime town councilor who didn’t seek re-election last year.

However, opponents have said the asphalt plant proposal pointed out a need to update the town’s comprehensive plan and zoning. Miner, Sprague and Homa, who is making a third council bid, have opposed locating the asphalt plant on Mosher Road, although the site is zoned industrial.

Robinson, a former town councilor who didn’t seek re-election last year, has said he favors the asphalt plant. Csoros, who is making his second bid this year for a council seat, favored economic development in last year’s race.

This year’s race heated up as recent town council action came under fire. Earlier this month, the town council approved ordinance changes that opponents of the proposed plant said would make planning board approval of the asphalt plant all but assurred.

Opponents questioned the council amending ordinances while the project was under review. But the town said ordinances needed to be clarified. The ordinances covered such issues as noise level measurement, hours of operation and slope requirements.

Some opponents also leveled conflict-of-interest allegations against Loveitt, who had voluntarily stated his son worked for Shaw Brothers Construction. Opponents wanted Loveitt recused from the vote on the ordinance amendments. The town’s lawyer subsequently determined there was no conflict and the council voted to allow Loveitt to participate in the discussion and vote. Loveitt, vice chairman, and the other two incumbents, Justice, who is chairman, and Dugas, voted in favor of the ordinance changes.

Silberman said five candidates for the council had been the previous high since 1989. Town Councilor Brenda Caldwell, a retired town clerk, remembered when 13 candidates ran for the council during a political upheaval in the early 1980s. “It is a large field but not the largest,” said Caldwell about this year’s slate.

For the two, three-year terms available on the school committee, incumbent Roger Marchand and Kyle P. Currier are running unopposed. School committee incumbent Jason Libby isn’t seeking re-election, but he might consider a run next year.

John W. Emerson Sr. is the lone candidate for a seat on the Portland Water District board of trustees. Incumbent Charles Hamblen isn’t seeking re-election.