Five men are running for two open seats on the Marion Planning Board. Below, read what each of the candidates have to say in their own words, and don't forget to vote on May 13 at the VFW from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

William do Carmo, 86
Retired, real estate developer

Experience
Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency senior field representative, HUD community planner and housing development representative

Track record
The redevelopment of a blighted community in New Bedford. As the project director of that site, I helped to formulate the plan and formulate the ways and means of revitalizing that entire community, building a school, building new housing, recreational areas, the entire sewage system, their water system, the roads and sidewalks.

As chairman of the New Bedford Airport Commission, I was instrumental in upgrading the airport, fencing the entire airport off, bringing in commercial airlines and getting the duty free status at the airport.

Why are you running?
I’ve been involved with planning, architecture and construction and all the facets, including human resources for over 50 years. I find that towns don’t know how to deal with housing issues. They don’t know how to communicate with people, especially people of different races and ethnic groups. I only deal with issues, not personalities.

How can the Planning Board improve?
They need to plan with a broader brush because many people I’ve run into have told me they feel excluded from the planning, that they seem to think Marion is rigged in a sense, that the people with the financial resources have total control over what goes on in the town.

[Also] we can’t let outsiders, entrepreneurs, developers come in and do whatever they want.

What would you like to see the Planning Board accomplish in the next term?
I’m hoping that the Planning Board is looking at Marion in totality and not operating in such a manner that it makes some of the population feel like they’re excluded. The town needs to reach out more. In many cases they don’t even have the desire to approach the town’s leader because they feel like it will fall on deaf ears.

We need to look at our policies and maybe make some adjustments and amend some of them.

Jerry “Rico” Ferrari, 70
Retired, sales, telecommunications

Experience
Planning Board, one term; Master Plan Subcommittee co-chair

Track record
When I started, the different areas of town were broken up into smoke stacks. They operated as their own separate domains like operating on separate islands. What we’ve done over the past term is develop within the master plan a group of advisors who work in the nine components of the master plan. Their charge is to look at an integrated approach to planning. Every facet plans together versus everybody worked independently before. It took a long time to organize it. [Also] we hired a town planner.

Why are you running again?
I want another three years to finish the master plan and then implement it, to set up checks and balances to keep it on task.

How can the Planning Board improve?
People who run for elections need to be better vetted by the people that are trying to recruit. They need to be team players, they need to be able to say, “I’ve heard all sides. I may not agree with you, but I’ll agree to disagree.” Then you need to be able to shut up after a while.

What would you like to see the Planning Board accomplish in the next term?
We look forward to updating the current bylaws because there is redundancy.

I’d like to set up an advisory group to help somebody looking to do something in Marion, to do the preliminary work before it gets presented. Along with that I would like to see a couple of volunteers that would work with both the Planning Board and the Board of Appeals to be able to be champions for the same purpose – when people want to come into town and they want to build something – to go over architectural standards that are conducive to the Town of Marion.

When there’s a big box store or anything else, be proactive, have consultants there versus waiting until the town of Marion goes fighting on the street to stop CVS.

Jon Henry, 70
Semi-retired, HVAC installer

Experience
Selectman, 12 years, including stints as chair; 35 years on Fire Department

Track record
Housing is at the top of the list. We were able to pull it together so we had brand new, $10 million age-restricted housing. We now have space for over 40 family housing units (at Marion Village Estates).

We put a new sewer plant in and extended the sewer and built a new police station. We completed plans to upgrade the entire water system.

Why are you running?
I have a lot of experience with planning as commission chair of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District.

I would like to see what I think is a level playing field for people who have matters to go before the town at all the boards. There seems to be intractable opposition even before a proposal is on the table. That is probably illegal and could give people grounds to sue. Everything should be judged on its merit.

I don’t have any pre-considered notions. If you have a better idea than I do, then I’m going to support it.

How can the Planning Board improve?
Coordination and cooperation needs improvement. They need to smooth things over and get it moving in one direction.

Business has got to be encouraged and actively supported, not just mouthing the words but making it happen. If you think that somebody is going to come along and open a mom and pop drug store, you’re sadly deluded.

What would you like to see the Planning Board accomplish in the next term?
We need to do a lot of rezoning and make more land and facilities available for business. I’d like to see accessory apartments legitimized. It would help the elderly to supplement their income and let them stay in their house rather than having to downsize and move somewhere else.

(Regarding sewer collection) I would like to see 100 percent or as close to as possible sewer collection so we have more people supporting the system.

Steve Kokkins, 75
Retired, engineering manager, real estate developer

Experience
Planning Board, one term; Boxford planning and zoning boards, 16 years

Track record
As the chairman, I think I helped steer the board through some tough decision making with good outcomes for Marion.

[As vice chair during the solar bylaw process] we had a lot of energetic discussions over what level of solar implementation we should have in Marion. That involves a lot of people skills, which I think I have, to try to help everybody make their opinions known but at the same time not runaway with the discussion so we can get something done.

Why are you running?
I don’t have any other agendas other than to serve the Town of Marion, to be a custodian of Marion temporarily and pass it on to the next generation. Our priorities should be doing what’s best for our citizens and future generation. I’m a very big proponent of citizen input and participation.

There are worldwide and national issues that are important, but we need to keep those in balance with the idea that our first priority is the needs of Marion.

How can the Planning Board improve?
I’d like the board to get more involved in the real planning process for our key buildings – our townhouse, our library, that whole area of the Village. I would like to see us get more involved in sensible planning– how do we preserve their character in a way that doesn’t bankrupt the town.

I think we need to work closer with the capital planning and finance side. We need more creative ways to link with other towns with water and sewer. The Planning Board can take a more active role by taking time to reach out and getting involved with other board as a way of better intercommunication.

What would you like to see the Planning Board accomplish in the next term?
We really need to try to address the zoning code. In that area in particular I’d like to see that we address more creative zoning for the provisions of housing for older people in Marion who would love to have a nice place to live that’s manageable and to be near family and friends.

William Saltonstall, 51
Architect

Experience
Police Station Building Committee, completed Citizen Planning Training Collaborative for planning board members

Track record
In my professional capacity, I’ve spend a lot of time in front of town boards on behalf of my clients. I’m very familiar with the issues and the processes around these approvals and these boards. I think my architectural training naturally involves some planning.

Why are you running?
I’m disillusioned with national politics, and I’m excited to do something on a local level where I think I can impact some change. I’m running ... because it’s a board where my skill sets will be more useful.

I’m very excited ... to be on the board at a time where the master plan would be implemented, and they’re implementing the bylaw changes.

How can the Planning Board improve?
I see the board has an opportunity as it’s being less reactive to be more proactive in planning the future of Marion. That’s one of the reason I’m really excited to be involved. I’m as interested if not more interested in the visionary side of it.

What would you like to see the Planning Board accomplish in the next term?
I’m specifically interested in facilitating growth for the town within the confines of preserving what’s special about Marion. There’s the possibility of having certain areas of town where we could do higher density, mixed use projects that aren’t allowed now. I think the master plan is going to identify those situations.

The board has to continue to be involved in the discussion about affordable housing and encouraging small businesses, especially given some of the potential big fiscal issues we face as a town. I think we have to write smart bylaws that don’t necessarily limit big box stores but allow them in the capacity that Marion wants to have them, not in the way that they want to exist. I’m a proponent of growth when it comes in the right form.