Staff Writer

Several potential candidates are lining up to run for two at-large seats on the Portland School Committee in November.

The interest comes despite the promise of intense public scrutiny and hard work ahead as the nine-member committee deals with an estimated $2.5 million budget deficit and other financial management problems.

Those who have taken out nomination papers include Benjamin Meiklejohn, the only incumbent who plans to run for re-election to an at-large seat. The other seat is held by Ellen Alcorn, who isn't seeking re-election.

Six other people have taken out papers to run for an at-large seat. They include Orlando Delogu of Carroll Street, who is a law professor, a former city councilor and a former Planning Board member; and Jaimey Caron of Old Barn Lane, who is an engineer and a former Planning Board member.

The others are Laurie Davis of Oakdale Street, Frederic Miller of Mayer Road, Leslie Minton of Auburn Street and Kathleen Snyder of Kenwood Street. The two candidates who get the most votes will win the seats.

Nomination papers have been available since July 9 and must be returned between Aug. 20 and Sept. 4, according to the city clerk's office. At-large candidates must collect signatures from at least 300 registered Portland voters.

Peter Eglinton of Frances Street, who was elected to the committee in June to fill a vacancy in District 3, is also up for re-election. Only Eglinton has taken out nomination papers for that race. District candidates must collect 75 or more signatures.

Of the school board's nine members, five must live in the district they represent and four, who are elected at-large, can live anywhere in the city.

Meiklejohn, the committee's senior member, is wrapping up his second three-year term.

His role as chairman of the finance subcommittee during the ongoing budget crisis has spurred some potential candidates to challenge his re-election.

"The current School Committee members have blown it badly," said Miller, who is an advertising agency owner, a radio broadcaster and a part-time English and communications instructor at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Mass.

Miller said he believes that the committee abdicated its duty to oversee financial management of schools.

"The No. 1 question is, 'How are you going to pay for it?' You have to know where the money's coming from," he said.

Miller said he was particularly angry when the committee held an executive session recently to discuss issues surrounding the deficit. He saw it as a demonstration of disregard for voters.

Whenever he makes an important decision, Miller said, he tries to imagine that the whole world is watching. It's an idea he picked up in one of the many elective business courses he took while studying for his master's degree in education at the University of Southern Maine, he said.

"The public has an absolute right to know what is going on," he said.

Caron said he believes that the committee needs new members to find solutions to persistent problems that have intensified in recent years. Many issues are related to the consolidation of school buildings, administration, transportation and other costly aspects of public education.

"We can't afford everything under the sun. We have to make tough choices," said Caron, who ran for the committee two years ago and considered running last year.

Caron said the committee must develop concrete plans with measurable goals and a clear understanding of costs, something he does every day, he said, as head of project management for Neill and Gunter Design and Consulting Engineers in Scarborough.

"I'd be the first to admit that I'm not an educational expert," Caron said. "But I have other skills and experience that are needed, and I have children in the system. It's even more important for people like me to get involved."

Meiklejohn said he believes that he has an excellent chance of...