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Raymond hosted a forum for candidates running for the town’s Select Board on Tuesday, May 26, which included a candidate who was recalled from his position on the board last year.

Former Select Board Chair Denis Morse is one of two candidates running to fill the final year of his three-year term. Morse previously served on the board, but was narrowly recalled at the end of 2025 amid accusations he and fellow board member Kaela Gonzalez created a divisive working environment that forced the resignation of Town Manager Joseph Crocker. Running against Morse is Charlotte Jewell.

Derek Ray and Fred Miller are each running uncontested for full three-year terms. Also in attendance were Diana Froisland and Keith Dyer, who are running uncontested for budget finance committee positions. Ray, along with Jodi Carroll, who was running uncontested for the Windham-Raymond school board, were unable to attend.

When the candidates were asked about their top short-term priorities, Morse said he would focus on creative solutions to prevent further tax increases, building a community center at the soon-to-be-shuttered Jordan Small Middle School, and making Raymond more walkable.

Jewell’s priorities included defining a long-term vision, maintaining affordability, and strengthening community engagement, while Miller said he is focused on getting the right people into office to address the issues facing Raymond.

An audience question, directed at Morse, asked what specific steps would be taken to ensure work stays within the board’s collective decision-making process and avoids unilateral action. Morse denied there were any unilateral decisions during his tenure, and said a decision to go over the budget done under his capacity as chair was made publicly with the board.

Miller said any challenges should be “worked on (by the relevant committees and Select Board as a team.” Jewell said institutional knowledge on the Select Board had been lost due to high turnover, and the town should take advantage of its Maine Municipal Organization membership and invite members of the organization to the town for educational purposes.

Another question concerned the implementation of the town’s 2025 comprehensive plan, and whether implementation should fall solely on the Select Board. Miller said some aspects of the plan had fallen by the wayside amid everything going on in the town, and implementation of the plan should be brought to the forefront, with the board as a starting point and also include other people involved.

Jewell hoped there would be more volunteers for the implementation committee, and encouraged the community to find a balance between its long “wish list” and financial realities, while Morse praised the 2004 comprehensive plan ad hoc committee, and said he hoped the current comprehensive plan committee would repeat its successes and restore a sense of community.

The candidates were also asked their positions on a proposed short-term rental ordinance. Morse recalled the rejection of a similar initiative by a previous town manager, and said the decision on adopting the ordinance was ultimately up to the public. Jewell said she could see the issue from both sides, but, citing concerns related to wording and enforcement, said she would not support the ordinance as written. Miller, who was also opposed to the ordinance as written, said blame for the excessive noise which spurred the ordinance fell on local residents as well as out-of-towners, and encouraged the town to enforce some sort of regulation to make the situation work for everyone.