Sanford voters will elect three city councilors on Nov. 3.

Councilor Alan Walsh is running against former state legislator John Tuttle for a one-year term. Voters also will elect two councilors to serve three-year terms. Incumbents Fred Smith and Richard Wilkins face challengers Dianne Connolly, Donald Jamison, Leonard Kinney and Lucas Lanigan.

Walsh, 53, said he is seeking another term on the City Council to continue his work on projects such as the high-speed fiber optic network to be built in Sanford that he says will have a “huge economic impact.” He also wants to complete the implementation of the road maintenance policy the council has worked on in recent months.

“I will continue to focus on budgets passed by the voters of Sanford,” he said. “Certainly the method of budgets have changed, but not the need to make every dollar count, which is why we have begun to purchase some used equipment rather than new and in turn investing the savings in much-needed energy updates to further save taxpayer dollars.”

Tuttle, 64, served 28 years in the state House of Representative and Senate and 10 years as a Sanford selectman in the 1980s. He said this experience will help him have a positive impact on the council.

“I feel that citizens of Sanford-Springvale are looking for progressive, constructive leadership as a means of building a better future for our city,” he said.

If elected, Tuttle said, he would focus on economic development and bringing jobs to the city. He said he would support efforts to bring regional air freight service to the airport, to complete the high-speed Internet system and to establish a theme park in south Sanford.

FOR ONE-YEAR TERM

JOHN L. TULLE Jr.
Address: 176 Cottage St.
Age: 64
Occupation: Emergency medical technician (retired)
Family: Wife, Ann; daughter, Meghan
Political experience/civic involvement: 28 years in Maine House of Representative and Senate, 1979-2014; Sanford selectman, 1980-90; Knights of Columbus 4th degree, 1980-present; Elks Lodge #1470 in Sanford; Free Mason Preble Lodge #143 in Sanford
Web: John L. Tuttle on Facebook

ALAN WALSH
Address: 5B Bowdoin St.
Age: 53
Occupation: Specialist at Stonewall Kitchen
Family: Divorced; two children, AJ and Krystal
Political experience/civic involvement: Current city councilor; finance and warrant committees; negotiations, town property and school budget subcommittees; former chairman and vice chairman of City Council and warrant and finance committees

 

In the race for the three-year terms, Wilkins and Smith are both seeking re-election. Wilkins did not respond to interview requests.

Smith, 52, owns a recycling business and is an active community volunteer finishing his first term on the council. In the past few years, the city has started to see some growth, especially as mills are redeveloped, he said.

“I see steps being made toward progress and I want to continue moving those steps forward,” he said.

Smith, who has lived in Sanford for 34 years, said he wants the city to better address the heroin epidemic, supporting education and lifting people out of poverty. He also favors improving housing standards and cleaning up rundown properties in the city.

Connolly, 49, previously was appointed to fill a vacancy on the council and now serves on the planning board. She said she would like to control yearly tax increases, bolster Sanford’s police force and get infrastructure under control.

“I would like to continue contributing to Sanford’s positive forward motion,” she said.

Jamison, 42, a former school committee member who has served on city finance and budget committees, said he wants to bring a new perspective to the City Council. He said his 20 years experience as an industrial engineer allow him to address issues with an analytical approach and foresight. If elected, Jamison said, he would focus on supporting education and addressing the city’s tax rate.

“The city of Sanford continues to struggle with rising expenses and limited revenue. While efforts have been made to attract business to the area, there is no silver bullet just around the corner,” he said. “We need to find ways to get the most out of the money that is coming in. Meanwhile, (we need to) ensure that existing business remains in town to prevent any additional tax burden on the individual homeowner.”

Kinney, 59, who is retired from the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, said he is running so he can help create quality jobs and make the city more business friendly.

“I don’t feel the present City Council is listening to the people that elected them and I’m concerned about spending at all levels of government,” he said. “First and foremost, I will listen to the people and with the information available I will make the decision with the best interest of the people in mind. When it comes to spending, I will first ask ‘Is this something you need or is this something you want?'”

Lanigan, 36, serves on the planning board and is active with the chamber of commerce. He said he would like to focus on marketing the city beyond its borders and supporting quality education.

“The ideas that I bring to the table are fresh, innovative and aimed at growing Sanford’s economy, strengthening its sense of community, updating its antiquated infrastructure and ultimately moving our city forward (and) creating an environment to reduce the tax burden for the resident of Sanford,” he said.

Sanford School Committee member Jonathan Mapes is running unopposed for a three-year term.

FOR THREE-YEAR TERM

DIANNE R. CONNOLLY
Address: 87 Railroad Ave., Springvale
Age: 49
Occupation: Part-time student at York County Community College studying criminal justice
Family: Married
Political experience/civic involvement: Appointed to City Council to fill vacancy, July-December 2014; current member of Sanford Planning Board

DONALD S. JAMISON
Address: 1 Oak Ridge Road
Age: 42
Occupation: Project engineer with Fedex Express for 18 years
Family: Wife of 18 years, Kim; son Hunter and daughter Jade
Political experience/civic involvement: Sanford School Committee, three years, including one as chairman; Sanford Finance Committee, two years; Sanford Budget Committee, two years; coached Sanford Rec soccer for four years; PTG president at Willard School for three years; SHS Music Boosters, two years, currently president; Sanford High School Construction Subcommittee member

LEONARD L. KINNEY
Address: 52 Elm St.
Age: 59
Occupation: Retired from New Hampshire Department of Corrections
Family: Single
Political experience/civic involvement: No political experience; umpire and coach for Little League baseball and softball and SSSA soccer

LUCAS J. LANIGAN
Address: 373 Main St., Springvale
Age: 36
Occupation: Self-employed
Family: Wife, Catalina Lanigan; four sons, Camilo, Alex, Simon and Santiago
Political experience/civic involvement: Sanford Planning Board member; Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Ambassador Committee; SSYAA Board of Directors; president of Synergize Sanford
Web: “Lucas Lanigan Sanford City Council” on Facebook

FRED W. SMITH
Address: 12 Meyers Lane, Springvale
Age: 52
Occupation: Owner of recycling business
Family: Married, five children
Political experience/civic involvement: City councilor for past three years

RICHARD L. WILKINS
Address: 29 Sherburne St.
Did not respond to requests for more information