Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, April 4 to elect a Select Board candidate, two School Committee candidates, and decide whether or not to move forward with the proposed police station.

On the ballot for the Select Board opening will be incumbent Stanley Mickelson, who currently chairs the board, and challenger Lorri-Ann Miller, Planning Board clerk.

Mickelson, a 35-year Dartmouth resident, said his focus for a second term would be balancing future budgets by attracting new businesses now.

“I truly, truly want to take advantage of the Route 6, Faunce Corner Road ‘L,’ and take the opportunity to increase business,” said Mickelson.

During his first three-year stint as Select Board member, Mickelson promoted the solar energy growth and other green initiatives in town, pushed for winter construction on the Padanaram Causeway, and supported a tax break for Dartmouth-based company AHEAD while it expands its manufacturing plant and job opportunities.

Miller is no stranger to Dartmouth politics, either. She’s spent the past 26 years on the Planning Board, but also boasts experience with the Industrial Development Commission and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD).

If elected, Miller will also focus on attracting new businesses.

"The town has reached a point where we're not getting new growth like we have in the past. If the town wants to maintain the tax rate and provide the services that the town wants, we need to increase revenue," she said.

Voters will also be asked to elect two of the three School Committee candidates. Incumbents Chris Garth and Carol Karafotis, as well as newcomer Kathleen Amaral will be on the ballot. (See Page 8 for candidate profiles.)

With 20 years of experience in both Massachusetts and Virginia schools, Garth plans to tackle school finance if elected for a second, three-year term.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that being in the bottom 10 percent [in per-pupil spending] is not acceptable,” Garth said.

Garth said he spent his first stint with the School Committee trying to rebuild public confidence and ease leadership troubles in the school system. Happy with the progress, Garth is now considering a redistricting to ease overcrowding and transportation concerns among some of the elementary schools.

Karafotis — outfitted with 37 years teaching experience — also has her eye on school finances, one of the objectives she plans to tackle if re-elected.

“Patching up” school buildings is not sustainable, she said. Karafotis said she’d also like to see more enrichment programs, which she is confident she can achieve while listening to parents, students, and administrators, like the superintendent and assistant superintendent that she helped hired.

“[Bonny Gifford and Michelle Roy] both know what they’re doing, and they both have a handle on things,” she said.

Amaral differentiates herself from other candidates with her background in advocacy. Inspired by her son’s disabilities and the one-on-one support he receives at Quinn School, Amaral co-chairs the Dartmouth Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), and promotes positive, sustainable lifestyles with Healthy Dartmouth.

"They sort of frame my passion for becoming involved," Amaral said.

Her priorities for the School Committee would include ensuring social and emotional learning programs, as well as parent engagement, to further support the district’s strategic plan.

Also on the ballot will be the following uncontested races: incumbent Robert Michaud is running for the Assessor seat; incumbents Wendy Garf-Lipp and Suzanne E. McDonald are running for Library Trustees; incumbent Thomas Hardman is running for the Board of Health; incumbent Joel Avila is running for the Planning Board; incumbent Sherri Tetrault is running for the Parks and Recreation Board; and George Alix is running for the Housing Authority board.

Following board and committee openings, voters will be asked to approve a temporary tax increase to fund a $13.4 million police station.

The station, which will replace the Gidley School on Tucker Road, is needed for space, security, improved efficiency, and future growth, according to officials. The police department was moved into modular units after bacteria in the water system at its Russells Mills headquarters made an officer sick.

The 21,800 square-foot proposal would include a meeting room that will be accessible to the public without allowing people access to the secured parts of the station; a sally port, which would allow for vehicles and ambulances to drive into a tunnel with doors that lock behind it so that prisoners can be safely transferred into the station; and 3,900 square feet of unused space for future expansion.

"The entire facility is designed for the future. Not only in space, but in state-of-the-art systems," said Project Manager Richard Pomroy.

Approving the temporary tax hike — called a “debt exclusion” because it overrides the tax-limiting Proposition 2 ½ — will allow officials to increase taxes above the state-mandated limit until the town has repaid money borrowed for station construction.

Police Chief Bob Szala and the advisory committee charged with overseeing the project made a final case for it at the March 27 Select Board meeting, noting that the proposed station puts the department closer to the majority of its calls. Officials also said the department has never had an official police station, rather it’s always been a repurposed building or modules.

Both Select Board members, advisory committee members, and police officers voiced their support for the project.

While candidates and voters ready for the elections, Town Clerk Lynn Medeiros checked off last-minute errands that needed finishing. She worked with the Board of Registrar of Voters on March 27 to test new ballot counting machines ahead of elections. Medeiros said the better displays should smooth the voting process for residents.

The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on April 4. For more information and to find your polling location, visit www.town.dartmouth.ma.us.