In a repeat race for Westbrook mayor, Republican Bruce Chuluda is challenging incumbent Democrat Colleen Hilton, who unseated him two years ago.

In her first term, Hilton believes she has greatly improved the city’s financial situation through consolidation of services.

If elected, she said, she would focus on bringing to the city more economic development successes, like the coming expansion of biotechnology company Idexx Laboratories.

Hilton, 55, is the chief executive officer of VNA Home Health & Hospice in South Portland. Her business experience and decade on the Westbrook School Committee, she said, have made her an effective public official.

Chuluda, 63, was the city’s mayor for six years and a city councilor before that.

He believes Westbrook residents want to see him back in office because he is accessible and responsive to his constituents.

Chuluda said keeping taxes down would be paramount to him, if elected, and he believes his experience affords him the ability to “make the decisions that will most positively affect the most people in the city.”

There are three contested races for seats on the Westbrook City Council.

In Ward 2, Matt Maloney is challenging Victor Chau, who is finishing his first term on the council.

Chau, a Democrat, said he has worked hard to help resolve Westbrook’s lingering issues and hopes in the next term to focus on the city’s future, including planning for infrastructure and facility needs.

Maloney, a Republican who works for Wayside Soup Kitchen, believes he’s the better candidate because he sees the effect of the struggling economy up close.

He said the city must prioritize all of its needs now, in anticipation of having less and less funding in the future.

In a three-way race, Republican Ernest Porell and Gary Rairdon, who is unenrolled, are challenging Democrat Dorothy Aube for the Ward 4 seat she has held for six years.

Porell, the grandson of a former mayor, wants to bring back the vital economy of the city’s past and believes it would help to streamline regulations for businesses to move in or expand.

Rairdon said taxpayers should be the priority of city officials, and they need to be kept in mind when making development decisions. A lifelong Westbrook resident, Rairdon said he wants to be a voice for the community.

Aube, also a Westbrook native, said her experience on the council makes her the best candidate. When it comes to budgeting, she believes the city needs to skim from several areas rather than make big cuts.

In Ward 5, Republican Michael Lawson will face Democrat Michael Sanphy, who is serving his first term on the council.

After 40 years in the Westbrook Police Department, Sanphy said being a councilor allows him to continue to serve the public and interact with the residents and employees of Westbrook.

He believes the city could be more business-friendly by relaxing some regulations in the downtown.

Lawson thinks it’s time for “some new blood” on the council. Making the right decision is more important than making the popular one, he said. Lawson believes the city should be focusing on planning projects for when the economy turns around.

In the race for city clerk, Susan Rossignol, the city’s former finance director, is challenging Lynda Adams, who has been the clerk for four years.

Rossignol believes her 40 years in municipal service makes her qualified to “restore integrity and great customer service to City Hall.” She said she enjoys working with residents and would treat everyone equally.

Adams said she also enjoys working with residents and believes they feel comfortable doing business with her. She said she encourages teamwork throughout City Hall and aims to provide the most efficient services at the least expense to the city.

Staff Writer Leslie Bridgers can be contacted at 791-6364 or at:

lbridgers@pressherald.com