James Benedict is one of six people running for two, three-year term seats on the town council. The other candidates were featured in last week's Leader.

James Benedict
121 Burnham Road
Education: Attended UMASS, Boston College,
Occupation: Consultant in Building Construction, and State Inspector, Mass Septic Inspection and Res.& Comm..
Age: 59
Party Affiliation: Republican
Political experience: 1978, Elected Town Meeting member Wellesley, Mass.; 1983-2001, attending Town Meeting member; 2001-present, Self appointed overseer of Scarborough politics to gain education for elected position on the council.
Civic associations: Scarborough Police Department, VIPS Charter member and co-chairmen/originator for Game of Scarborough. Member Lions Club International including local club, past president, zone chairman, region chairman.
Statement about candidacy: I will bring to the Council 30 years of politics, 32 years of homeownership, 35 years of parenting, 37 years of marriage, 40 years of business ownership, 43 years of being a taxpayer, and 59 years of “Proud to be an American.”
Municipal spending: Carefully scrutinize the difference between needs and wants.
Tax-reform priorities: Need more information from state-level Reps that should be able to guide us to appropriate ideas that are attainable.
Growth and development: We need a crystal clear equation of tax dollars and revenue received vs. cost factor per capita.
Education funding: Scarborough’s education has always been a success story and through our school board and school department we need to oversee the fact that this continues. We do not have to spend every dime every day. Smart funding begins by understanding that, like a budget is a guide; because it’s accepted, doesn’t mean it always has to be spent.
Economic development: We need an accurate file on checks and balances to determine if the town can finish the projects at hand with the money allotted before considering starting new ones. Be sure we are on our intended financial track with the task at hand.
Infrastructure priorities: Develop an overview of ideas and projects at hand and decide a system to implement to get them accomplished effectively but with-out losing site of the cost/value analysis. Schools, traffic management, and overall public safety would be a good start.
Highest spending priorities: Public safety for all, academic, athletic, and social development for our children and a self-sufficient community center for growth and interaction for all residents including our challenged and senior citizens.
Spending to be cut or eliminated: Need more public opinion and actual facts to justify an answer.
Goals to accomplish in the next term: Keep the citizens of the town as well as business owners informed with what activities, potential changes or decisions that are pending that could affect them (open communication), concentrate on the physical buildings in the school system as to their structural condition, as well as preventative action and maintenance that will bring longevity to their life before we get into a quick decision situation that economically could have been avoided by being proactive in stead of reactive.
Issues voters bring up most often: Peoples needs and wants list vary tremendously, however three categories that are a constant are – Education to be well rounded; public officials’ decisions to be the majority representations of the community and when confronted with a topic that needs a remedy, concentrate on a resolution as opposed to wasting time and energy on discussions that will not produce a solution.
Ways voters can differentiate you from your opponents: I have both been a part of government since 1978 with an elected position as well as attending Town Meeting in the towns I have lived in besides Scarborough; thus keeping up with problems and solutions. This in itself would make me a prepared Town Council member, coupled with the fact I moved to Scarborough in 2001 and have spent substantial time following through newspaper, meetings ,and conversation around town the hot topics as well as routine topics so I could understand the operations of the town. Secondly As a founding member of the Scarborough Police Dept s’ VIPS,I have had the one-on-one opportunity of working in and around the citizens of Scarborough, knowing all the areas and having a relationship with many business’ in town. Thirdly I am in a position to have a neutral opinion on the issues, maintain a position of speaking for the citizens not injection personal opinion, and plenty of time to go to the meetings and do the research needed to realistically approach a problem/solution.