After two terms and six years as a Marion Selectman, the time came on Tuesday, May 15 for Roger Blanchette to bid farewell.

In January, Blanchette announced his plan not to run for a third term. Blanchette’s successor will be named during the May 25 Town Election.

On Tuesday, Selectman Stephen Cushing congratulated Blanchette on his 26 years of public service.

“I want to thank you for being a real mentor for me,” Cushing said. “I’m definitely going to miss you.”

Selectmen Chair John Henry agreed.

“Mentor or tormentor I’d say,” Henry said. “You’ve been a big help to the town because you brought a lot of experience to the town. I know a lot of public officials in the town and you are second to none with the breadth of experience you have brought.”

Blanchette’s experience includes time spent on the Private Roads Committee, Housing Partnership Committee, Finance Committee and Zoning Board of Appeals.

“It’s been a real pleasure working with the two of you over the last few years,” Blanchette said. “I really feel that as a board we accomplished an awful lot.”

Henry agreed. Despite their disagreements, Henry said he was proud of how well the Selectmen worked with one another, and how their “patience got them there in the end.”

“There’s a time for all things and it’s not always easy but you’ve done that with grace and with looking forward to new ventures in your life,” Henry said. “I appreciate that and I’ll take note of that. The town is better off for your having served the town. I want to thank you Roger very, very much and I am deeply in your debt.”