W. Dale Jones is running for the one-year selectman term to tackle Marion's Town House and its sewer plant upgrade—two things, he says, that as a retired engineer and sewer plant manager, he can contribute to.

"I'm for the renovation of the current Town House," he said. "I worked for many years in reconstruction and renovation of historic buildings. I don't think we can renovate the Town House piecemeal. From my experience, it's impossible to do a piecemeal repair."

Jones instead advocates for the complete renovation of the Town House as a project that will give Marion residents "a functional, long-lasting, beautiful building to be proud of."

He stated that he is willing to work as a supplementary project manager for the Town House renovation, alongside Marion Facilities Manager Sean Cormier. "[Cormier] can't do all that work alongside his regular duties," Jones explained. "The town would have to pay someone to work alongside him. I have the time and experience, and I'm willing to donate my time to save the town some money."

When asked about the cost of the renovation project, Jones said, "It's worth the cost, for sure. I think we can probably do it for less than the projected cost, and the tax difference will be very small."

Jones also wants to focus on the town's sewer plant upgrades. "The waste treatment plant needs to be addressed," he said. "We've already made commitments to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency. We need to address leakage in the pipes, whether or not the town decides to tie sewer in with Wareham. It's an ongoing problem, and if I'm elected selectman, it will be addressed."

Jones said that the sewer pipes need to be analyzed, lined if possible, and replaced if necessary, adding that operation of the treatment plant ties into taxation and helps keep the town affordable.

Jones was involved in installing and operating a waste treatment plant in the past. For many years, he held a Grade 6 waste treatment license, the highest license one can receive based on examinations. Marion's waste treatment plant is a Grade 5 treatment plant.

When it comes to budgeting (and everything else concerning governing), Jones said that the selectmen need to work as a team. "Working together to achieve the goals of the town is the most important thing," he explained. "Selectmen should be working together very closely. I believe in democracy and Town Meeting...the townspeople should have major input into the operation of their town. It's the selectmen's job to listen."

Jones is also confident that he can keep a strict eye on Marion's town budget. Alongside his many other titles (longtime director and a founder of Marion Emergency Management, nuclear ship superintendent at General Dynamics, former Merchant Marine, former EMT, member of the Sippican School Building Committee) he was also the chairman of Marion's Police Station Building Committee.

"We brought that building in on time and under budget," he said.