With eight candidates vying for just three seats, the Gorham Town Council race is remarkable in that it may signal change for this growing town. In recent years, as many new families have moved into town, the faces on the town council have remained familiar. While the high number of candidates this fall is obviously driven in part by the debate over a proposed asphalt plant, it’s also an indication that some of these new families are seeking a voice in the governance of their town. Whether they get the representation they are seeking this year, next year or the year after, it seems clear that change in Gorham’s town government is coming.

While we see value in new voices on the town council, some important work remains that requires councilors with experience. The bypass was just the first step in fixing traffic problems and making Gorham more accessible. To compete for economic development with Westbrook and Scarborough, Gorham needs a turnpike spur. That’s why two of our endorsements go to longtime councilors Burleigh Loveitt and Norm Justice. Together the two men have nearly four decades of experience on the town council. Much of that time has been spent on transportation issues, as the town has sought to get state and federal funding for the bypass. These two men can help the town get a turnpike spur, which will be essential to improving traffic flow and competing for economic development.

Our third endorsement goes to Philip Csoros, who ran for a seat on the council a year ago and lost. Csoros is probably the most conservative of all the newcomers running for a seat on the town council, but that’s not why we’re supporting him. Csoros, who sits on the board of directors for the Gorham Economic Development Corp., impressed us with his knowledge of issues facing the town and his emphasis on long-term planning and economic development.

Frank wants to serve city

In the race for city clerk, Westbrook has two strong candidates in Deb Frank and Lynda Adams. This race was a tough call, but our endorsement goes to Frank because of her 35 years of administrative and managerial experience. After serving on the school committee and city council, she has lost a couple of elections – once for a seat on the council and once for a seat in the Legislature. Frank is a sharp, hard working person who could excel in the position of city clerk. She says she’s running because she wants to return to serving the city, and she’s willing to leave a lucrative job at Florida Power and Light to do it.

Return incumbents to office

In the at-large city council races in Westbrook, our endorsements go to incumbents John O’Hara and Michael Foley. We have supported O’Hara in the past and are doing so again because he responds well to his constituents and isn’t afraid to speak out on tough issues. After nearly a decade on the city council, he brings a lot of experience to the job. He is a supporter of economic development and has been a longtime supporter of adopting a pay-per-bag trash program, something we’ve advocated for. Residents are well served by O’Hara.

Although some residents might hesitate to vote for Foley this year after his recent row with former Human Resources Director Tina Crellin, Foley believed he was acting in the best interest of city. His missteps in this matter could largely be chalked up to his youth and inexperience. In his time as city councilor, Foley has made an admirable attempt to get to know how all of the departments operate. In spending time at each of them, he got to know many of the city’s employees, which is ultimately how he got caught up in the dispute with Crellin, because he believed he was doing the right thing on behalf of employees who had complaints. The report released this week after an investigation into the matter makes it clear he made plenty of mistakes, but he will learn from them and proceed a bit more cautiously in the future. Foley is young, but he’s smart and wants to devote his life to community service. That’s an endeavor worthy of our support.

Brendan Moran, editor

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