Nine years ago, Jon Henry joined the Marion Board of Selectmen with a list of goals. In fact, he still has the original piece of paper he wrote them down on.

On Friday, May 17, Henry hopes voters will give him a fourth term, and allow him to move forward with those goals.

On that day, residents will decide a contested race for a seat on the Board of Selectmen. Challengers include Planning Board member Ted North and W. Dale Jones.

Already, Henry has worked to establish enterprise funds for town water and sewer accounts, an original goal of his that’s been met.

Money in those accounts, in contrast to a general fund, is earmarked for specific expenditures.

Those funds, Henry said, will help bring the town into compliance with a Department of Environmental Protection consent order in place for 20 years. Under the order, Marion must make improvements to its drainage system to address run-off entering Buzzards Bay, and system leaks.

Substantial work is needed, he said: “You can’t just say ‘no’ to those repairs. That’s the kind of thinking that got us into this mess in the first place…public utilities are over taxed and under maintained.”

A lifelong resident of Marion, Henry raised his five children here and runs the family business his grandfather started in 1895. Now called the J. F. Henry Company, it specializes in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work.

“I’m grateful to the town, there is a wonderful quality of life here, and I’m going to use every bit of effort to preserve it,” Henry said.

If re-elected, Henry will continue to focus on three areas: public safety, public health, and education.

Regarding public safety, Henry said he was pleased with his work that made the town’s ambulance service full-time.

Additionally, his work on the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District Economic Development Commission is a source of pride.

Over nine years, Henry and commission members, have spent more than $100 million on transportation and other projects in Bristol and Plymouth counties. Recently, Henry was named chairman of the commission.

Henry said he plans to work hard on Marion’s behalf if awarded one more term.

“I’m going to dig in. I’m not about to go to Florida for six months,” he said.