Woolwich voters have just one contested local race on the Nov. 6 ballot. Don Adams is challenging longtime Selectman David King Sr. for his seat on the board. King won when two men faced each other in 2015.

Jack Shaw is running unopposed for road commissioner. He’s held the office 35 years.

The town holds an annual town meeting in the spring and elects its town officers in November; incumbents' terms end Dec. 31.

Adams frequently attends the select board’s meetings and is a member of the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee.

“People keep telling me over and over they want to see a change in the status quo, that they are tired of the way town affairs are being managed,” he said from his home on Shaw Road.

“One of the biggest problems is we hold a town meeting every year and fewer and fewer people turn out to approve the town’s budget. Last year we had a little over a hundred people show up and there was even less in attendance by the time the meeting ended, two hours later.

“That’s a terrible turnout considering we have close to 2,500 registered voters. The select board calls it a good turnout when 300 people show up for the meeting which is still low. The thing is, not everyone can attend and if they aren’t there, they don’t have a say on what the town spends its money on because they can’t vote absentee."

Adams said if 1,000 or more voters showed up for the annual town meeting, he doubts the elementary school’s auditorium could accommodate them. “Then what happens? But my real point is, only a small percentage of the community’s voters are getting a say because they aren’t able to attend the town meeting and can’t vote by absentee ballot.”

Adams doubts the current board will ever consider changing to a referendum form of voting.

If elected, Adams said he’d look into reopening a stretch of Route 1 the state currently has closed to commercial development. “We’re losing thousands of dollars in potential tax revenue along with the jobs that would be created by the new businesses. I’d ask state officials to consider lifting a portion of this moratorium on commercial restrictions.”

Adams said it was a mistake for the select board to enter into a long-term solid waste and recycling contract. “Recycling now is costing us more then waste disposal and what doesn’t get recycled is being incinerated which I understand to be worse for the environment.”

King has served as a Woolwich selectman for almost 23 years, the last 13 as chairman.

“People that know me understand I do my best to watch every dollar the town spends,” he said in an interview at the town office.

“I think this current select board is one of the best I’ve ever worked with and tries really hard to keep property taxes to where people, particularly those on fixed incomes, can afford them.

“It’s not easy because there are so many expenses the select board simply doesn’t have a lot of control over. All five of us put a great deal of time into the position and each of us brings our own unique skills to the office.”

Fiscally speaking the town is in good shape, King added. “We’ve got three or four more years to pay down the debt on the municipal building and then there’s the debt on the new fire truck. Compared to other communities, I think we’re doing very well financially.”

Woolwich doesn’t have a large commercial base. “We’re thankful for the businesses we do have but most of our tax base is residential which is why we have to keep such a close eye on spending.”

By and large, King believes things are running smoothly. “We’re still waiting on what the state plans to do about the bridge on the George Wright Road. It’s possible we might get some financial help addressing the concerns there.”

The future of the town’s ambulance service is another concern. “We’ve been holding meetings, discussing different avenues the community might want to pursue. The town’s current contract with North East Ambulance Service expires this coming June. My goal is to have something ready for voters to consider at next year’s annual town meeting in April. We might send out a survey to see what direction people would like to see us go on EMS.”

King said he enjoys serving on the board. “Woolwich is a good place for a young couple to raise a family and send their children to school and a good place too for retired folks to settle down and call home. When you consider a lot of other places and the all problems they’re having, I don’t think we’re doing so bad here.”

Woolwich has 2,450 registered voters, according to Town Clerk Chelsea Lane. She stated residents can register to vote at the town office during regular business hours: Monday and Tuesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Proof of identity and residency are required.