VASSALBORO — A longtime selectman and a political newcomer are both vying for a three-year term on the town’s Board of Selectmen.
Voters will elect either Larisa Batchelder or incumbent Lauchlin Titus to fill the term in Tuesday’s election. The polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Office.
Batchelder, 38, said in an interview she’s usually “not fond of politicians.” She is studying toward a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts at the University of Maine at Augusta with a minor in political science and community organization, and what she’s learning has pushed her to get involved in her town government, she said.
“On the books, when you’re learning about government, you’re learning about how the government represents us as people,” she said.
She faces incumbent Titus, 62, who has been a selectman for nine years and is the board chairman.
Titus first entered town politics in 1992 when he joined the School Committee. He then joined the Budget Committee for about 12 years before running for a selectman’s seat.
“Vassalboro town government has run very well,” he said. “It’s been a good experience, and there’s no reason to walk away from a good experience.”
Batchelder says she often hears from small-business owners and others in town that they think their elected officials aren’t listening to their concerns.
“Basically, my soapbox is listening to the people. I would like to put my own ideological platforms aside,” Batchelder said. “I plan on visiting my local barbershop, my local mechanic, getting the local gossip and putting that together with education, and coming up with something that pleases the people and the law.”
Batchelder herself runs a small business, Cozy Barn Antiques, along with her husband. She is also president of the board of directors for the Southern Maine Association of Shakespearean Homeschoolers.
Batchelder said she is not running from any political side, but that she is pro-small business, pro-communication and pro-technology.
Titus owns and runs AgMatters LLC, a crop consulting business that works with Maine farmers.
While Titus said there is nothing in particular he is looking to change around town, the Board of Selectmen is “always looking for new efficiencies and better ways of doing things.”
For example, the board is planning to monitor the switch to LED lights in other towns to see if that is something Vassalboro should consider. It has a potential cost savings of about $10,000, Titus said.
“That’s the kind of thing that I like,” Titus said, “to just find whether there are efficiencies and things that we can do better.”
There are no dramatic changes he would like to make, he said, adding that he thinks Vassalboro government has worked well for at least the last 20 years.
Madeline St. Amour — 861-9239
mstamour@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @madelinestamour
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