ESSEX — Voters casting a ballot Monday in this year's contest for selectman will choose between a consensus-building incumbent who strives for common ground and a straight-shooting challenger unafraid to take controversial positions on tough issues.
The incumbent, financial planner Raymond Randall, has served as a selectman since 2005 and was the main architect behind the formation of the town's Long Term Planning Committee. Randall, in an interview Thursday, said he was proud of his work on the current board, which has aimed for consensus and avoided internal conflict.
"The board has battled toward consensus," Randall said. "We work toward a common viewpoint. I think it is important for selectmen to set a vision for the town."
The challenger, transmission repair shop owner Ed Neal, who served as a selectman from 1994 to 1997, said this week that in the current board's search for consensus, serious issues were not getting the debate and scrutiny they deserved.
"Throughout this campaign, I have not been afraid to give my positions," Neal said. "Sometimes you have to realize when there isn't a consensus."
Neal, who has also served on the Board of Health and School Committee, said he would work with fellow selectmen if elected, but would also make his position on issues known and stand on principle if needed. During his time on the School Committee, Neal was a vocal critic of the way the committee and regional school administration handled the district's finances.
The differences in the candidates have been drawn out recently over the future of Conomo Point; last year they clashed over a pair of opposing Town Meeting articles related to selling town-owned land there.
Neal, a member of the Conomo Point Planning Committee, has staunchly opposed selling any land at the point north of Robbins Island Road.
When the majority of the planning committee, supported by the selectmen, placed an article on the 2007 annual warrant that suggested selling lots at Beach Circle and Robbins Island, Neal led a faction of the committee that proposed an article that would have only acted on the land south of Robbins Island.
With officials and Conomo Point Planning Committee members in disagreement about the best way to proceed, Town Meeting defeated both articles.
After a Town Meeting vote Monday to begin the process of selling land south of Robbins Island Road, Neal said he would never compromise on his position that the town should never sell any of its waterfront lots on Conomo Point, including Beach Circle and Robbins Island.
Randall said this week that he would not rule out selling land at Conomo Point north of the road if it made sense for the town.
In addition to Conomo Point, Neal also has been a vocal critic of several proposals popular with town boards related to increased zoning and land use restrictions in town.
Neal opposed a citizens petition bylaw, defeated at Town Meeting on Monday, to prevent new commercial development on John Wise Avenue and proposals to exclude Planning Board decisions from appeal by the local Zoning Board of Appeals.
Neal said this week he was disappointed the selectmen did not take a position on the John Wise Avenue article. He said he was not opposed to protecting some residential areas from commercial development, but was concerned about increasing sentiment against business interests from homeowners who would make Essex a bedroom community.
"There are some areas that need some restrictions and I am willing to create residential districts," Neal said. "But at the same time, we need a business district if is going to remain a living, breathing community."
Randall said he was cautiously optimistic that the town was becoming more open to zoning, but said planning help was needed from professional, third-party planners who could find creative ways to keep revenue streams from development alive.
He said the selectmen needed to take a leadership role in getting the zoning process started and should work to get financial help from local lawmakers.
Patrick Anderson may be contacted at panderson@gloucestertimes.com.
><p>
Essex Town Election
When: Monday, May 12
Polling station: Essex fire station
Polls hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On the ballot: Several incumbents are up for re-election; the selectman's seat is the only one contested, however.
