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10/20/2021 09:00 AMIn the Nov. 2 election, Westbrook voters will have two choices for selectman: Republican Joseph Campbell and Democrat Vince Gentile. The Harbor News caught up with the candidates for Board of Selectman (BOS) to see where they stand on the issues.
In Westbrook, the Board of Selectmen will be the body that can direct the policies that effect the other boards and commissions. Below is what the selectman candidates had to say.
Joe Campbell
Campbell said he was motivated to run for a seat on the Board of Selectmen because he wants to continue volunteering for the town.
“I have a long record of involvement with the town. I’m very connected to the town and I really appreciate what it has done for me. I realized with the right people, we could do more for the town,” said Campbell.
Campbell has served on the Board of Education, been involved with the Republican Town Committee for 16 years, coached in town, and been involved with church activity at St. Mary’s. He was also spent 20 years working in the Department of Corrections, but currently owns Julie’s Cup of Joe in downtown Westbrook.
As for issues he’d like to work on if elected, the biggest one for Campbell is making sure Westbrook is financially sound.
“[First Selectman] Noel [Bishop] has done a fabulous job over the last 14 years so continuing his financial prudence is important to me,” said Campbell.
As for another issue important to him, Campbell pointed to the rash of car break-ins that have been going on state wide.
“People are worried and the people doing it seem to be getting bolder,” said Campbell.
Campbell said his solution is t hire another full-time constable in town to expand law enforcement coverage.
“We can get more coverage for cheaper with a constable,” said Campbell.
As a business owner in the town center, Campbell said that he understands the importance of bringing economic development to that area of town.
“Running the shop, I realized how important making the area a place people want to be, a place you can walk, and making it more inviting is,” said Campbell.
Campbell said that to learn more about him voters can go to the Team Hall/Campbell Facebook page and the Republican Town Committee website westbrookctrepublicans.com.
Vince Gentile
Gentile is running for a seat on the BOS because he said that he thinks there’s more potential in town that can be captured and he wants to make sure the town doesn’t squander the opportunity.
“I am running because I love our town and I see a tremendous amount of unfilled potential. It’s time to move forward,” said Gentile.
Gentile is currently on the Zoning Commission and a volunteer firefighter and has served on the Pension Retirement Board. He has worked in IT as a systems administrator for 20 years.
As for issues he’d like to work on if elected, Gentile singled out development in town as an important starting point.
“The main one is I’d like to see a community septic system,” said Gentile.
The lack of a septic system in the down town are has been cited over the years as a major hurdle preventing more development in the area.
“I’d like to see some smart economic development,” said Gentile.
In particular, Gentile said he’d like to see the town use more resources to go after available grants and to attract development that will increase the tax base in town.
As for another issue to work on, Gentile said making the town more walkable is important to him.
“Sidewalks are something residents have more than once said that they wanted. In the big picture, it makes the town more walkable,” said Gentile, who added that he believes a more walkable town is good for commerce. “I understand this as a former small business owner.”
Gentile said that for more information on him and his campaign interested voters can visit the Westbrook Democratic Town Committee website www.westbrookdems.org as well as the Facebook page.