Two currently in the running for Rochester Selectmen

Feb 12, 2016

It looks like Rochester will have another race for Selectmen this year. So far, two residents have submitted their papers to run for the single position on the board.

Incumbent Brad Morse, who already has three terms on the board, is looking to make it four. Planning Board member Michael Murphy, a former Selectman, is the other candidate.

This is a familiar situation for Morse and Murphy, who ran against each other in 2013.

As town officials for many years, the two have worked together in the past, and both are local business owners – Murphy owns Murphy’s Auto and Morse owns Double M Cranberry Company.

Murphy held one term as a Selectman when he was 44. Twenty years later, he said he would like another shot at the position because “I enjoy being with the people.”

Plus, he said, “I would like to give the people another option.”

If elected, Murphy said he wants to remain serving on the Planning Board as well.

A former Planning Board member himself, Morse cited “wanting to serve my community” as his original motivation for running for the board.

Morse said, if elected, he would “continue to run the town in a fiscally responsible manner and to continue with some of our objectives that aren’t finished yet.”

On the list is an outcome to the issue of what to do with the Town Hall. Talks have been ongoing regarding the need for more space, and a committee is currently looking into the best options.

Other potential candidates still have time to run. Nomination papers are due at Town Hall before 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 24.

So far, no other open positions are contested. Long-time School Committee member Sharon Hartley has pulled papers for the Rochester School Committee and current Old Rochester Regional School Committee member Carey Humphrey has done so as well.

Current Planning Board members Lee Carr and Gary Florindo have submitted papers to keep their positions.

Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge has done the same.

The complete list of open positions is as follows: Rochester School Committee, one position; Park Commission, one position, three years; Cemetery Commission, one position; Library Trustees, two positions, five years; Planning Board, two positions, two years; Board of Assessors; Board of Health, one position, three years; Constable, two positions, three years; Highway Surveyor, one position, three years.