A political newcomer in Buxton is hoping to unseat an incumbent as four candidates vie for a pair of three-year terms on the Board of Selectman.

Veteran selectmen Clifford L. Emery and Peter E.W. Burns are facing challengers from a new face in the political arena, Julianna J. Poirier, 33,  and a Planning Board member, Mark J. Blier.

No candidates names will appear on the ballot for two seats on the School Administrative District 6 board, and voters will also determine whether to validate the $48,108,355 school budget.

Buxton’s municipal election is Tuesday, June 14.  The municipal budget will be decided in the town meeting on Saturday, June 18, at 9 a.m., in town hall, 185 Portland Road.

Emery, 62,, a Buxton native, is now chairman of the board and has been a selectman for more than two decades. Emery is a self-employed excavating contractor.

Burns, 70, who is retired, is seeking his third term on the board and is a former chairman. He served several years on the Budget Committee.

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Emery and Burns could not be reached  for comment by the American Journal deadline Wednesday.

Blier, 48, has served on the Budget Committee and is currently a Planning Board member with a term expiring in 2017. He owns and manages real estate. He said he feels his combined political and business experience makes him a qualified candidate for the selectman seat.

“I appreciate the job the current selectmen have done, and I hope to work with them to help facilitate the town into a great future,” Blier said.

Poirier said she has a background in public service and is a former EMT and firefighter.

“I have been living in Buxton for four years and believe this is a wonderful community, but also believe there are opportunities for improvement,” Poirier said. “As selectman, I hope to provide new perspectives and be the driving force behind change that this town needs.”

The two expiring SAD 6 terms from Buxton  are those of Bradley Garand and Jacob Stoddard, who is vice chairman of the board.

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“If people want to write me in, I would serve,” Stoddard said Tuesday.

Garand in an email last month said he was appointed in 2015 and was aware the position would end in 2016. Garand said he has some pending personal goals and now is the “right time to tackle them.” He thanked the selectmen and residents for the opportunity to represent them on the SAD 6 board.

Buxton’s share of paying for education would be $6,742,663.51, according to SAD 6 budget information. For Buxton taxpayers, the town’s share represents a 2.7 percent hike, or $177,812 increase, if voters Tuesday approve the school budget.

Buxton’s proposed municipal budget is $5,708,416, Kimberly Beam, town treasurer, said Tuesday.

“This is $191,942 over this current fiscal year budget,” Beam said.

Clifford L. Emery

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Mark J. Blier

 

Julianna J. Poirier

 

 

Peter E.W. Burns


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