“The new broom sweeps best,” according to resident and Rochester School Committee candidate Matt Bache.

“I would like to open up the dialogue between the school committee and parents,” said Bache. “I feel that right now there is a lot of division, and I feel like the current school administration is ducking their responsibility of listening to parents.”

Bache has two children that attend Rochester Memorial School and a third at Old Rochester Regional High School.

He also serves on the Rochester Conservation Committee.

“I hear a lot of feedback from people,” said Bache. “I know a lot of parents, and I really think that's what this school committee needs to stop the division — more communication.”

Bache is the owner of local business Bache’s Plumbing and Heating and believes his experience with running a company will bring organizational skills, blue collar values and financial knowledge to the committee.

“With the current financial climate, it’s best that somebody who is well versed in finance be involved because everyone is struggling,” said Bache. “That is something that I would be good at, tightening the purse strings.”

“I would like the public to know that I am listening,” said Bache. “I don’t care if you are a Republican, a Democrat, or an independent — I will listen to you. I believe in compromise and I believe that I can bring that to the school committee.