Candidates for the Old Orchard Beach Town Council are citing spending cuts, new revenue streams and repairs to aging infrastructure as the big issues facing their town.

Seven candidates, two of them incumbents, are running for three seats in the Nov. 2 election. Here is what they said about the issues:
Jerome Begert, 54, of 4 Gables Way, a member of the town’s charter commission, said he is running to protect taxpayers and continue setting the example “that all citizens must get involved to foster government transparency and responsiveness and to enable Old Orchard Beach’s renaissance as a hometown with year-round quality of life and sense of place.”

Begert, a writer and retired journalist, said the biggest need for the town is to freeze taxes. He said more than 2,000 of the town’s 6,500 taxable properties are condominiums that allow only older residents, who put little strain on town services.

“I want to be an advocate for them,” he said. “That the town cannot balance the town budget with a one-third revenue stream of free money is an arrogance and delusionality.”

Robin Dayton, 48, of 59 Fern Ave., a four-year incumbent, said she is seeking re-election to continue the work she started, such as improvements to The Ballpark, the replacement of the skateboard park, weekly recycling and a project to determine whether wind power is feasible in town.

Dayton has a master’s degree in public administration and works for the Maine Emergency Communications Bureau. She said the town lost $1.5 million last year, which highlights the need to attract a variety of businesses to help increase the tax base.

She said there are other issues that she wants to address.

“We still haven’t tackled sewer treatment and water treatment and streets,” Dayton said.

Roxanne Frenette, 49, of 102 Ross Road, a town councilor from 2002 to 2008, said she enjoyed the job so much that she wants to do it again. She is an assistant to the executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority and a third-generation resident of the town.

“We need to keep it affordable,” she said.

Frenette said the biggest issue for the town is the lack of revenue. “We have to work on streamlining our expenses and developing The Ballpark for more of its potential,” she said.

She said the town must make itself more appealing to families.

“Even though there is a lot of talk about bringing businesses to Old Orchard Beach, it is really a bedroom community, so what we need are more residents,” Frenette said.

Dana Furtado, 37, of 9 Myrtle Ave., is a political newcomer who said he is running to make a difference and bring about change.

“I would like to see things change in regard to infrastructure and reduce taxes,” said Furtado, who owns a small business in town.

He said that as a councilor, he would analyze the budget line by line to better understand where money is being spent.

He said the town has done a good job controlling public works spending and developing The Ballpark, but it must work to fill vacant stores and boost employment.

“Everyone knows someone who isn’t working. If we cut taxes, increase our revenue stream and develop light industry, that would mitigate a lot of the problems the town faces,” he said.

Paul Ladakakos, 71, of 36 Goosefare Drive, was a town councilor for several years in the 1980s and a member of the town’s charter review board. He is a retired explosives superintendent.

He said he is running to work with the other members of the council. Ladakakos said he would work to reduce spending, increase revenue from The Ballpark and improve education. “But as a conservative Republican, I want to reduce the taxes and cut the budget,” he said.

Ladakakos said the town must encourage commercial and residential development. He said the town could improve its industrial park and offer incentives to persuade businesses and people to move to Old Orchard Beach.

“You have to spend a little money to make a little money,” he said.

Robert Quinn, 72, of 60 Ross Road, a former member of the town’s charter commission, said he is running to make a difference. He retired this year as an accountant and business owner.

Quinn said he would make the town’s budget his focus.

“We need to sharpen the pencils. We are on an unsustainable path now, digging into the undesignated fund more each year. I want to stretch the dollars,” he said.

He said he would go through the budget line by line to save money for the town’s infrastructure needs, such as roads, sewers and the fire station, which will need work when the police department moves.

“There is a lot of support for a community center. I don’t think that is in the cards right now,” Quinn said.

Michael R. Tousignant, 48, of 1 Hilltop Drive, said he is seeking a second term on the council to keep up the momentum.

“We are trying to create new economic development in Old Orchard Beach,” said Tousignant, who owns Loading Dock of New England Inc.

He said he wants to spark new uses of The Ballpark, such as the balloon festival and dog show organized by OOB 365, a group of business owners and residents who are working to promote activities in town.

Tousignant said the biggest issue for the town is its aging sewage system, roads and sidewalks. “Over the past 10 years we have added 1,500 to 2,000 new households with very little upgrade to the infrastructure,” he said.

He said grant money and new revenue are needed to pay for improvements.

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at: bquimby@pressherald.com
 

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