Salem — With state finances up in the air until a budget is passed, the five candidates for the Board of Selectmen are campaigning on increasing residents' awareness of what's going on in town, why, and what townspeople can do about it.

Ron LaBonte and current Selectman Ed Chmielewski were nominated by the Republican Town Committee for the two seats currently held by Chmielewski and departing Selectman Robert Ross. Kristina Len and Hugh McKenney were nominated by the Democratic Town Committee.

Board of Finance Chairman T.J. Butcher, a registered Democrat, also is running for the board as a petitioning candidate.

Butcher, 61, originally was nominated by the DTC to run for Zoning Board of Appeals, but he said he decided to run for the Board of Selectman as a petitioning candidate instead after other residents in town asked why he wasn't running. After nearly eight years on the Board of Finance, four as chairman, he was ready for a change but still wanted to be involved. He said the town will need experienced leaders to get through the challenging next few years.

LaBonte, 52, who currently sits on the Planning and Zoning Commission, said he decided to run for the board after longtime member Ross decided not to run again. He said he would have liked more political experience before running for the board, but with his two children in college and his schedule free of coaching and scoutmaster duties, he's ready to work on making the town more business-friendly to build the tax base and offset state cuts.

Len turns 62 the day after Election Day. As chairwoman of the DTC and former member of the Board of Education, she said she is running to help inform residents of the impact that the state budget will have on the town. She said the boards haven't taken much time to fully explain the state budget process and Salem's role in it, and she wants to be a resource for residents.

McKenney, 55, who also ran for the Board of Selectmen in 2015, also is campaigning for transparency from the board. He said the meetings he has attended have been quick with minimal discussion, and he would like to see members of the board asking more questions so everyone has a deeper understanding of the issues. He also wants to work with the board and state representatives to push back against budgetary decisions from the state that negatively impact the town.

Chmielewski, 57, credited Salem's financial stability to board and commission members like him looking at decisions through a fiscally conservative lens, and his focus would be to continue working to keep taxes low and preserve services, including supporting the town's emergency responders and promoting business growth and affordable housing. As a recent retiree, he would like to remain in Salem and have his children and grandchildren be able to live in town, as well. 

a.hutchinson@theday.com