STETSON – Nearly a year after a public hearing that led to the resignation of 10 town employees and committee members, the town is holding two candidates nights for voters to meet the residents vying for public office in 2007.

Ten residents are running for four selectmen positions, while the position of the long-standing road commissioner also is being contested.

A private group of residents has organized a night to meet the candidates at 7 p.m. Monday, April 23, upstairs in the meetinghouse. A second candidates night will be held at 7 p.m. May 11, also at the meetinghouse.

The purpose of the meeting is to hear the backgrounds of the candidates and listen to their platforms and goals for the community. There will be a moderator and a uniformed officer present to avoid any confrontation.

Candidates for three, three-year selectmen positions are: Delores Butler, Gary Bellefleur Jr., Brenda Clark, Donald Carroll, Wayne Allard, Alphonse LaLiberte, Greg Grant and Dennis Kosciusko.

Gerald Button and Martin Hipsky are vying for the remaining two years of First Selectman David Buchstaber’s term. Buchstaber and Carroll, two members of the three-person board, both tried to resign over the winter. Carroll resigned, but Buchstaber agreed to stay on so the town could continue to do business, according to officials.

In a special town meeting in September 2006, the community voted to turn the three-person selectmen board into a five-person panel. The additional two seats will be filled for the first time this spring.

John Biggar will challenge longtime Road Commissioner Charles Merrill for the one-year post. Jody Lyford is running uncontested for the SAD 64 board of directors.