VASSALBORO — One selectman’s seat and one school committee position will be decided by town voters on Tuesday.

Incumbent Philip Haines faces a challenge from Marshall Crandall for a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. In the school committee race, Frederick Denico is hoping for another three-year term while Jolene Clark Gamage is making her first bid for public office.

Haines, 66, served as a selectmen from 1982-1989 and again from 1993-1999 before running three years ago. A retired state worker, Haines said the board has worked to hold the line on taxes.

“I think we’re running a responsive-to-the-people town,” he said.

Crandall, 43, said he moved to Vassalboro seven years ago because he wanted to face fewer restrictions on zoning and because of the low taxes. But he worries that the town, and the water districts, are beginning to get too much power.

“I want to preserve our country way of life and make sure we don’t chop up our farms too much,” he said.

Crandall works at Progressive Distributors Inc. in Winthrop and with mentally disabled clients at Kennebec Behavioral Health. In 2002, he was arrested for disorderly conduct, assault and criminal mischief following an outburst at District Court, and in 2008 he served time for domestic assault and violating a court order. Crandall said the incidents were a long time ago and were related to a bad divorce.

Looking ahead, Haines said the town will continue to face the challenge of finding affordable ways to get rid of solid waste. He’s lived in Vassalboro for 40 years, and raised his children in the town.

“I have a solid understanding of all of the relationships between state government and local government,” he said.

Crandall said he’s run for other public offices before, and is hoping his concern as an “outside activist” will resonate with voters. He said there’s a lack of development in the town, and “a vote for me will help.”

In the school committee race, Denico, 71, said he’s got five grandchildren in the schools and he wants to continue to serve the community.

“They know I’m frugal but I’m fair,” he said.

A retired engineer, Denico said he’s served in several other town positions, including on the Board of Selectmen, sanitary district and library committee. He said the schools will face continued budget difficulties because of state funding. This year, the schools received $467,000 less in funding from the state than last.

Denico faces a challenge from Jolene Clark Gamage, 44, a mother of five who is making her first bid for public office. A nurse and real estate agent, Gamage said she wants the opportunity to serve the town.

“I just want to make sure the budget is being appropriated correctly and we’re not making cuts where it doesn’t need to be cut and make sure services are there for the kids,” she said.

Gamage grew up in Vassalboro and said she knows the area well.

“I really have a vested interest in everything that happens at the school,” she said. “I just want to be a support to the community and make sure the services are there for years to come.”

Susan Cover — 621-5643

scover@mainetoday.com