The only contested race in the Rochester town election this year turned heated at Thursday afternoon’s candidates forum.

Three candidates are currently running for a Board of Selectman seat – incumbent Richard Nunes, Woody Hartley and Ben Bailey.

When Nunes took the stand and addressed the crowd he talked about his belief in small government, his interest in keeping taxes affordable, his experience over the past 15 years as a Selectman and before it was all over, made sure to get a few shots in at Hartley.

“Mr. Hartley has a couple of potential conflicts of interest,” Nunes said. “His wife is a long time school committee member…sixty percent of the budget goes to schools. His sister is president of the Rochester Woman’s Club, which the town has a lease with the club.”

The town is currently leasing the Woman’s Club building as a Town Hall Annex for $30,000 a year.

Hartley said he hadn’t planned on having to defend himself when it was his chance to speak, but that it was necessary.

“I’m disappointed that in one election cycle out town politics have been brought down to the level of national politics,” he said. “My wife is a volunteer for the school committee, there is no pay. My sister is a volunteer for [a non-profit] and doesn’t make a dime.”

Despite some of the tensions between candidates, each did get a chance to campaign for themselves by outlining ideologies and ideas.

Bailey said that a couple of things he thinks needs to be improved in Rochester are transparency and leadership.

“The selectmen operate with less transparency than they should,” he said.

Bailey specifically referenced the recent decision to regionalize the 911 dispatch system.

“Whether it makes sense financially or not I won’t comment on, but I’m interested in transparency,” he said. “Were people consulted? Was the fire chief asked what he thought? No. It was done by the selectmen…There was a lack of transparency, a lack of inclusion and a lack of leadership.”

Hartley also touted his own ability to bring leadership to the selectman position.

“Years ago we had a real problem with space, the Town Hall was overcrowded,” he said. “We needed room, I saw an opportunity. Right down the road was the Rochester Woman’s Club…It had seen membership decline and had a large open space in the back that wasn’t being used anymore…I proposed what is now called the Town Hall Annex. Not only did I propose it but I volunteered to help the transformation…I see opportunity where people see problems.”

Nunes emphasized that he wanted to keep taxes affordable for families and senior citizens while maintaining the rural character of the town. He also reminded residents of his accomplishments in his 15 years as selectmen.

“[The 911 regionalization] will save taxpayers money and improve dispatch services and communication infrastructure,” he said. “I recently voted against placing a debt exclusion for road improvements because it will raise property taxes for each household by $40…In 2008 I supported the Rochester Memorial School expansion…it was a good investment for the town. It made fiscal sense.”

To view the entire forum, check ORCTV listings.

The election is on April 12. Polling will take place at the Senior Center on Dexter Lane.