China voters filled three seats on the town’s Board of Selectmen, as incumbents Ron Breton and Janet Preston, and newcomer Blane Casey won two-year terms.

Ron Breton

They will join Irene Belanger and Wayne Chadwick on the five-member board. Casey collected 1,445 votes, Preston 1,148 votes and Breton 1,030 votes.

Brent Chesley and Jeanne Marquis came up short with 722 and 719 votes, respectively.

Breton, 70, currently chairs the select board. He is in his second term and previously served four terms on China’s Planning Board. Breton, a 35-year China resident, is a retired master sergeant with the Maine Army National Guard and former supervisor at the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Breton said he’d like to address elderly housing. He also said he wants to investigate lowering taxes through staffing costs and/or health programs and health packages for town employees.

“Even if I am not the chair, I’d still bring this up as a discussion with the rest of the board during a public meeting and see what their thought processes are,” Beton said. “I’d just like to lower the taxes or the administrative cost, because that’s the only place we can cause an effect.”

Breton has said he is also interested in working for better broadband access, transportation for the elderly, and a community outpatient clinic.

Janet Preston. Courtesy photo

Preston, 59, was elected to the Board of Selectmen this past spring when another member resigned. Editor of the China Lakes Association newsletter since 1994, Preston previously served on the Regional School Unit 18 board of directors. Preston supports China Village’s boat landing improvement project and is interested in seeing a retirement community built in China.

“I’m very grateful to everyone who supported me and voted for me,” Preston said. “I look forward to serving the people of China for another two years.”

Blane Casey

Casey, 61, led all select board candidates with the most votes. He thanked voters for their votes and their confidence in him in an email sent Thursday.

The self-employed general contractor is focused on lowering taxes and adjusting spending habits at the municipal level.

“I believe I was voted into this position as I want to maintain the current tax rates or hopefully lower them by looking at all services and places that the town can operate more efficiently,” he said in an email Thursday.

“I hope to assist in keeping the Town a good place for our elderly to stay in their homes,  young people to move in  or stay in the town and help our working families thrive in our town,” he said and expects to accomplish that goal working with other board members “to make sure the voters voices are heard and their thoughts are considered before any decisions are made on their behalf.”

Toni Wall won an unopposed spot on the Planning Board representing District 2. James Wilkens ran unopposed for an at-large spot on the Planning Board.

Thomas Rumpf and Timothy Basham captured spots on China’s Budget Committee in Districts 2 and 4, respectively.

China residents also voted to enact the Town of China Solid Waste Flow Control Ordinance, 1,380-782. Residents further approved the Town of China Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance by a 1,360-793 vote.