ROCHESTER – Rochester candidates for election and re-election spoke at a Candidates Night on March 21, detailing how they had handled the position in the past, or how they hope to serve in the future. 

David Hughes, who is running for Park Commissioner and re-election as Constable, Marc Slabodnick, who is running for Constable and Bradford Morse, who is running unopposed for Selectman, all spoke at the Senior Center.  

Candidates that are running but couldn’t attend the event included Dianna Knapp (Board of Assessors) Glenn Lawrence (Board of Health) Richard Charon (Water Commission) Dennis Dessrosiers and Kimberly Burt (Library Trustees) Jeffrey Eldridge (Highway Surveyor) Lori Souza (Cemetery Commission) Carolyn Pruchnik (Constable) and Sharon Hartley (Rochester School Committee).

Hughes said the fields in Rochester’s parks have been busy hosting games, from lacrosse to baseball and soccer. The schedule is so booked for the season there are no time slots for anyone else. The Park Commission also hosts the Marion soccer league on Rochester fields. 

“We’re pretty much busy, we’re full. As soon as the season breaks we’re going full tilt,” he said.  

Forum Moderator and Board of Selectman Chairman Greenwood Hartley III asked Hughes how he handles maintenance and irrigation on the parks. Hughes said the town gives the Commissioner $15,000 to maintain its parks. He also relies on donations. However, the town does not pay for water. Instead, Hughes said the commission is self-sufficient, drawing water from Doggett's Brook to Dexter Lane Field and has underground water wells that help keep the fields watered.

Hughes also said the sports teams help maintain the field by picking up garbage and cleaning their fields. If they don’t, the Park Commission penalizes them. Hughes said he uses a private company to keep the parks fertilized. They also hire one person who comes seasonally to maintain the lawn by weedwacking and mowing.

Hughes said the Park Commission is hoping to get grants to build a shelter on a concrete pad with some picnic tables.

As Constable, Hughes and Slabodnick said they will be doing repossessions, trespasses, evictions, and postings for town. 

“Let’s face it, the constable is not a crowd favorite,” said Slabodnick, “The most important thing I want to stress from watching constables in my line of work in Boston was that you have to be respectful of [the] person no matter what. [The] person should be respected. On the other hand, you have to do the job safely and you have to take care of yourself.”

Slabodnick was a Boston special police officer who owned a security company which specialized in bodyguards, security, asset protection and bar and restaurant security as well as night clubs. In 2014 he started working on building a house in Rochester, where he moved in 2017 and became an interior carpenter.

Slabodnik’s fiancée and forum attendee Lisa Casey, explained why Slabodnick wants to run.

“Since moving to Rochester four years ago, we were warmly welcomed by the people in town. Because of that, Marc wants to give back to the community.” said Casey.

Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson who attended the forum, said he was hopeful about this year’s candidates. He said he’s familiar with a most of the candidates including Hughes and Morse.

“I think they’ll do a great job. I’ve known all the candidates except for the new gentlemen running for constable, I’ve known Mr. Hughes for many many years and he’s always been a good and proper job of posting the hearing notices for the Planning Board,” said Johnson, “Brad’s done a lot of good things for the town and we have a lot of good cooperation with all the boards in town which I think helps the town.”

Johnson announced there will be a public hearing regarding the marijuana bylaw, which the Rochester Planning Board has approved, on May 7th. The hearing will designate areas where recreational marijuana can be grown.

The election will be April 10th 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.at 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester. The annual town meeting will be May 20 and 21.