A veteran member of the Buxton Planning Board is making his first bid for the Board of Selectmen Tuesday.

Keith Emery, 49, is vying for a seat in a race with two incumbents, Jean Harmon and Bob Libby. An employee of the Public Works Department, Emery has worked for the town for three decades and full time since 2000.

If his right to serve on the board were challenged because he is employed full-time by the town, Emery said he would fight for his right to be seated on the board, in court if necessary. “Anyone has a right to run and serve under the laws of this country,” Emery said.

Emery said he is running “to help out this town and keep it flowing smoothly.”

He said he favors hiring a town manager. “It’s time this town has someone in charge of day-to-day operations,” Emery said.

Advocating more economic development in town to ease the property tax burden on homeowners, Emery would like to see Route 202 through Buxton rezoned for commercial uses. “We need new businesses to offset taxes,” Emery said.

Emery, who served in the Army and was a Buxton firefighter for 25 years, is a bachelor living on Bruce Woods Road. A Buxton native, Emery’s family has deep roots in town. He says he knows the town and its people.

A graduate of Bonny Eagle High School in 1979, Emery has served on the Planning Board since 1993. He is the board’s vice chairman, after serving as chairman 2000-2007.

Emery owns a small business, Emery’s Tree Removal. He has experience as a professional heavy equipment operator in construction.

A fan of auto racing, Emery owns a car that races at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, where he was an official for three years. To aid youth sports, he was a sponsor that launched football at Bonny Eagle.

If elected, he said he wouldn’t be afraid to voice his opinion on the board. “I’ll never be politically correct. I’ll tell them what I think,” Emery said.

Emery brings planning experience