Staff Writer

Residents in Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport vote to fill seats on the towns’ boards of selectmen next month.

There are four contested seats in Kennebunk, including two currently occupied by Dan Boothby and Al Searles and two new seats created due to town charter changes voted on Nov. 4, 2008. 

Boothby announced he would not seek reelection. Searles is vying for a seat along with six residents including Debbie Beal, Bruce Coyne, John Kotsonis, Rachel Phipps, David Spofford and William Ward. 

Spofford, 58, is a life-long Kennebunk resident who has served the budget board for nine years. With an educational background in political science, he said he understands the workings of a town, and now in “semi-retirement” has more time to dedicate to a position on the board of selectmen. 

“My preeminent concern is property taxes and being careful how we spend money,” Spofford said. 

Beal, 41, has also lived in Kennebunk “all her life,” and is currently finishing a degree in linguistics and works full time at TD BankNorth. After attending a few meetings she was “bitten by the bug” of town politics. 

“I want to maintain the small town atmosphere, but am interested in business development and growth. I want to keep our children happy with this town and keep the community together,” Beal said. 

Phipps, 47, currently works for the town as the youth services coordinator, a position that is slated for elimination for the upcoming fiscal year. She said she previously served as selectman for a term and a half and hopes to redirect the board to their mission as “fiscal agents” of the town.

“I feel the current board and trend has become too far managerial and moved beyond their scope of mission and role,” Phipps said. “It’s inappropriate to do the town’s work at 11 at night. I also want to increase public involvement and board transparency and inclusion of the public.”

Kotsonis, 50, works for the United States Postal Service in Kennebunk and moved to town three years ago. Having served on the planning board in Newmarket, N.H., he said he’s always been interested in town politics. 

“Several of my customers have been after me to run. They’ve told me they feel I’m making sense when I talk at meetings,” Kotsonis said. “I’m looking for fiscal responsibility in how we spend our money. Times are tough and money is tight. I want to be the voice for the people.”

Ward, 53, owns Arundel Computer Service and has served on the budget board, the school finance committee. Serving as selectman is something he has wanted to do as well, he said. 

“I’m concerned about the next couple of years with this economy. It will require a conservative way of thinking to navigate the current economy,” Ward said.  

As of press time Tuesday, Searles could not be reached for comment and Coyne did not return phone calls. 

In Kennebunkport, two selectmen seats are contested with Allen Daggett and Kristi Bryant’s terms expiring. Daggett and Bryant are both running for reelection, and Stuart Barwise is hoping to unseat one of them as one of the top two vote-getters.  As of press time, calls to the candidates were not returned. 

Two seats are also open in Arundel. Selectman David Lane is not running for reelection, leaving Selectman Mark Paulin and new candidate Byron Kindley running unopposed. There is also a position on the budget board open, but Town Clerk Simone Boissonneault said there are no candidate for the position. 

Polls are scheduled to be open all day June 9 at the Arundel Fire Station on Limerick Road for Arundel residents, at the Village Fire Station on North Street for Kennebunkport residents and in the Edward C. Winston Auditorium inside town hall for Kennebunk residents.

Staff writer Emma Bouthillette can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 237.