Carpenter Enters Race for Board of Selectmen

It's official – there will be a race for Board of Selectmen this year.

After some thought and consideration, Alan Carpenter has announced that he will make a run for the board's vacant seat.

”Today I am officially announcing my candidacy for the Windham Board of Selectmen," Carpenter said in a written statement. "After carefully evaluating the many important issues facing our community I feel the leadership, experience and common sense approach I would bring to the Board would serve our town well."

The announcement comes just one week after Windham businessman Al Letizio Jr. tossed his hat into the ring.

Carpenter, who has lived with his family in Windham since 1998, has served two previous terms on the Board of Selectmen along with one term on the town's Planning Board.

He added that the town needs to return its focus to local politics.

"After watching the last few local elections, I believe we need to change the conversation away from national party politics and focus them instead on what is best for Windham," Carpenter said. "This is exactly what you will hear from me in the weeks ahead.”  

Carpenter last served on the board after his term expired in 2008. He was chairman at the time of his departure.

Letizio is seeking his first term on the board. He has served extensively on the school side of Windham politics, having been elected twice and appointed twice to the Windham School Board. He is a current member of the Economic Development Committee.

The two are running to fill a vacancy left by departing Chairman Bruce Breton, who will not seek another term on the board due to recent health concerns.

Breton is still recovering after a serious illness sent him to Parkland Medical Center. His condition has upgraded and he has been removed from the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

According to a report from The Eagle Tribune on Sunday, he expects to leave the hospital in about two weeks.

Other members of the Board of Selectmen include Ross McLeod and Roger Hohenberger, who were both re-elected in 2012, and both Phil LoChiatto and Kathleen DiFruscia, who were elected in 2011.