Maintaining Dartmouth High’s controversial Indian symbol. Revisiting the town’s marijuana overlay district bylaws. Revitalizing old space and vacant buildings around town.

These were among a few of the topics those campaigning for seats on town boards and committees touched on during Dartmouth Community Television’s Candidate Night on Wednesday, March 16.

Candidates in the four contested races of the April 5 town election ​​had the opportunity to introduce themselves to voters, explain their decision to run for office, and answer questions. 

Contested races include the Library Board of Trustees, Planning Board, School Committee, and Select Board.

The forum was moderated by Dartmouth Community Media’s Paul Santos, with questions asked by a panel consisting of WBSM Radio News Reporter Kate Robinson and Dartmouth Week Editor Christopher Shea.

Library Trustee candidates James Griffith and Lisa Tufano opened up the night providing their vision on how to attract more use of the public libraries. 

Both agreed the best solution is to see resident feedback to see what programs they would support implementing in the libraries. 

“It’s about meeting people where they’re at,” Tufano said. “Finding out what the people are interested in and finding those programs they want to participate in would be helpful in getting new people into the library.”

In the Planning Board race between incumbent Steve Taylor and challenger Dr. Nicholas Psichopaidas, a big subject of discussion was redevelopment along Route 6.

Taylor spoke in favor of using some of the vacant spaces for new “better” businesses, along with potential housing developments. 

“Things like that would make a lot of sense,” he said. “That would be much better than bulldozing woods or hayfields for those kinds of additions.”

Psichopaidas suggested having buildings such as three-to-five-story multi-family housing complexes, mixed use buildings, and additional medical services along the corridor.

In the three-way race for School Committee, incumbent John Nunes and challenger Lynne Turner both said that they feel Dartmouth High’s Indian Logo should remain.

“It was designed by an Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe member when he was in high school,” Turner said. “It is a sense of pride for them and their tribe.’

Fellow incumbent Chris Oliver was unable to attend the forum, but sent a prewritten statement. He also gave his support for maintaining the Indian.

“I believe there will be a way to work together and find a place in local history for it rather than cancel it,” he wrote.

His fellow candidates also spoke in favor of collaborating with the federally recognized Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah to incorporate more Native American history and cultureinto school curriculum.

“There should be more education taught — those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it,” Nunes said, adding that it would require additional communication with the state to fully develop a curriculum.

The night ended with discussion from Select Board incumbent John Haran and challenger Heidi Brooks, the former principal at Potter School. Current Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald also spoke, but is running unopposed for his seat on the board.

The candidates spoke about recent water quality issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s planned cleanup in Bliss Corner, and the possible revisiting of the town’s marijuana bylaws.

Haran said that he would like to see the marijuana overlay district rezoned to be on Route 6. 

“It fits better for traffic on Route 6 than it does on Faunce Corner,” he said.

Ultimately, any rezoning would have to be approved by Town Meeting.

Brooks, meanwhile, said she would like to “remain cautious” as the town seeks and constructs marijuana establishments.

A full replay of the Candidates Forum discussion can be found attached to this story or on the DCTV YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvVh4UZ2S4g. 

Dartmouth Week will be publishing profiles of candidates running in contested races for Library Board of Trustees and Select Board in the coming weeks.

The annual election will take place Tuesday, April 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Absentee voting is available for those who cannot make it to the polls on election day. To request an absentee ballot, contact the town clerk’s office.