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Business development also ranks high as an issue for the six contenders for two seats on the council.

By BETH QUIMBY Staff Writer October 23, 2008

Six candidates, including two incumbents, are competing for two seats on the Sanford Town Council.

Candidates cited rising taxes, government spending and business development as some of the important issues facing the town.

Incumbent councilor Joseph Hanslip wants to continue the economic progress and highway improvements Sanford has seen in the past three years.

"My priority list is to continue to attract and attain good employers," Hanslip said.

Hanslip said he would also work to continue the capital improvement plan to catch up on maintenance and repair on streets and sidewalks and see a new police station completed.

Everard "Lenny" Horr said he is running for town council to help bring about positive economic development and broaden the tax base in Sanford.

Horr said he does not support tax increment financing (TIF) for residential development projects.

"I don't want to see TIFs used to add more bedrooms in town," he said.

He said as a town councilor he would work to make Sanford more attractive to businesses.

Catherine Markland said she is running after becoming frustrated by the turmoil she sees in the current council and pledged to listen to the issues and vote to do the right thing for Sanford.

"It seems some people have very large voices and are not taking the time to listen to the issues," she said.

As a town councilor, Markland said she would use her skills as a former business owner to manage town spending and taxes. She would also look for alternatives to pay-by-the-bag garbage collection.

Leonard Mustacchio says he is running to clean up the town administration, which he said is spending money "like crazy."

"We are probably in the worst shape we have been in since the Great Depression," said Mustacchio.

Mustacchio said he would work to make changes in the town charter to force the town administration to follow the charter and cut discretionary spending.

Incumbent councilor Gordon Paul, a former Sanford police chief, said he is seeking re-election to continue the work he has done in the 34 years he has been involved in Sanford municipal government.

Paul said he will work to build a consensus on the council to adopt policies that would reign in property taxes and curb municipal spending.

"The council needs to work more closely with the town manager to control municipal spending," Paul said.

Political newcomer Richard Wilkins is running because he knows the town well as the retired Sanford Public Works director.

"I have been retired for three years and doing this or that and thought I might as well try this," he said.

He said taxes are too high in Sanford.

Wilkins also said he has no specific plans about what he would do as town councilor at this time.

"I can't get into too much until I can find out about what is going on," he said.

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com