HOULTON – Two people are seeking election to a four-year term as Aroostook County commissioner to represent District 1.

Incumbent Paul J. Adams of Houlton, an independent, is being challenged by Richard L. Rhoda of Houlton, a Republican.

Adams, 54, was born in Island Falls. He has been in banking for 29 years and is employed by Katahdin Trust Co., where he is a vice president and head of the indirect lending department. He is divorced and has two adult children.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ricker College and a certificate of advanced banking studies from Williams School of Banking in Williamstown, Mass.

He has served as a county commissioner for 16 years and is chairman.

Adams is a member and past president of the Houlton Rotary Club. He is a member of the Houlton Community Country Club, a past president of the Houlton Chamber of Commerce, and a past president of the Houlton Regional Health Services Foundation.

His top three priorities if elected would be to continue to work to provide the most cost-efficient services to Aroostook County with minimal impact on taxpayers; continued collaboration with county and local economic development organizations to secure economic development opportunities; and to continue to work with the state’s congressional and legislative delegations to ensure that The County receives its fair share of federal and state programs and grants.

Rhoda, 59, was born in Houlton. A lawyer, he holds a bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Maine and a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. He and his wife, Cecilia, have two sons.

He served as legal counsel to the Aroostook County commissioners for three years; served on the Houlton Budget Committee; was master of Monument Lodge of Masons from 1977 to 1988; is a past president of the Houlton Rotary Club; and has been a member of the Houlton Chamber of Commerce since 1986.

He also was a member of the Salvation Army board of directors for 10 years; has been on the board of directors of the Southern Aroostook Historical Society since 1997; was named a Southern Aroostook Ambassador in 1999 by the Community Champions Committee; is a member of the Houlton Regional Hospital community relations committee; and was chairman of the Houlton World War II memorial committee in 2001.

His top priorities, if elected, would be to strive to ensure efficient county governmental services at reasonable cost to taxpayers and at reasonable administrative expense; meet and work with elected town officials on town and county affairs; and promote Aroostook County with pride in its past and faith in its future.