BUCKSPORT, Maine — Residents will have their choice of six candidates to fill three open Bucksport Town Council positions, while another open council seat is uncontested.
Frank Dunbar, a former councilor, barber and member of the Bucks Mills Rod and Gun Club is running unopposed for the two-year remainder of Jeff Robinson Sr.’s term. Robinson died from lung cancer in July. The council appointed Joel Wardwell to hold Robinson’s seat until the election, and Wardwell did not file to run for the rest of the two-year term.
The three open full-term positions come as current Councilors David Kee, Byron Vinton III and Belle Ryder finish their first terms. Kee and Vinton, both retirees, are running for re-election. Ryder is not.
Joining Kee and Vinton on the ballot are Caleb Carter, Glenn Findley, Brian Leeman and Wendy White.
Leeman, who works at Verso Paper, is a former councilor, who resigned his seat in November 2011 to become involved in a new business venture. Ryder was appointed to finish his term, which expired this year.
White, who also works at the paper mill, is an alternate on the town’s Board of Assessment Review. She had formerly taken out papers to run for the two-year term, but has since decided to run for one of the available three-year terms.
Neither Carter nor Findley was available for comment Thursday afternoon. The election takes place Nov. 6 at G.H. Jewett School on Bridge Street.
Follow Mario Moretto on Twitter at @riocarmine.
Not a big deal, but just for the record… I do not “work for” Verso. I retired from Verso last November due to the surprise permanent shutdown of No. 2 paper machine. I decided at that time to step down from the council in order to devote 100% of my time to begin a pulp & paper training consultation and development firm.
I felt, at that time, it was in the best interest of the Town of Bucksport to reliquish my council seat to allow a full time replacement in order to have a complete 7 person council in place while vetting the replacement for the retiring Town Manager. Verso currently contracts our services for training development and programming.