FOLEY

REHOBOTH — Although quite different, Board of Selectmen candidates Gerald V. Schwall and Kenneth J. Foley agree the town’s governing board should have three independent members.

They also say their beliefs and positions have been “distorted” by the other’s supporters. In addition, each is a registered independent and a married father, and has already served on a town committee. Schwall is a Finance Committee member. Foley is the vice chairman of the Conservation Committee and a member of the Gravel Committee.

And both say that they believe the town will go in the wrong direction if the other is chosen for the seat being vacated by Stephen Martin, who is not seeking reelection.

Schwall and his supporters, many of whom tried unsuccessfully to recall Selectman Christopher P. Morra earlier this year, say Foley will be a close ally of Morra if elected.

“The recall is over, but the issues remain,” Schwall said, such as “the lack of adequate funding, independently minded selectmen members, improving the schools, everything.” Schwall, 50, of Lorimar Lane, is a 10-year resident and a regional director of the Midas Corp.

He continued, “Someone said, ‘How are you going to serve with him [Morra] if you don’t like each other?’ I work everyday with people who will never come to my house for dinner, but I work with them and we achieve the objectives.”

Foley said he believes Schwall is a “product of the recall” and allied with people who used to control town government, and, back then, made decisions for Rehoboth based on how the end result would best benefit them.

“[Schwall’s] connected with the past and they are why we have the problems that we are having today,” said Foley, 61, of French Street. The 37-year town resident and owner of Francis Farm, which he bought in 2004, also said, “I mean, he answers to those people. They fund his whole campaign. We need change in this town.”

As for Morra, Foley continued, “I’ve never been to dinner with Chris Morra. Do I share a lot of his [Morra’s] views? Absolutely…. I applaud [Morra] for stepping forward and being the guy who started to question things. I think he’s a good guy, a good politician and good for this town, but when I go down there, I’m not going to be anyone’s puppet.”

The selectmen’s race is 1 of 15 on the ballot, 5 of which are contested in Monday’s election. The other contested spots are two three-year term seats on the Dighton Rehoboth Regional District School Committee; a one-year position on the same school board; and a one-year term on the Planning Board.

Nearly all of town discussion, however, has centered on the selectmen’s race.

Foley and Schwall both listed town finances as one of their top three concerns. Schwall says the Finance Committee submitted 20 or so alternative revenue sources — such as impact fees for developers and a gravel tax — to the selectmen two years ago and they have yet to be discussed. He said Rehoboth also needs to have a three- to five-year budget plan and that hasn’t been worked on either.

He has voted previously for an override to the state’s Proposition 2½ tax levy cap, but said it was because the state’s school district funding formula was changed and there was a “drastic reduction” in state aid that would have resulted in “teachers being cut.” He said an override is “not the answer” today

Foley said raising taxes is easy, but “we have to look at other alternatives first.”

Although he didn’t discuss any specific alternatives, Foley said the town has to make sacrifices and cut. He said the Police Department’s “excessive overtime” and “overspending in police vehicles” must stop and, with that and other cuts, the town will have additional money to reduce class sizes.

“We just can’t spend, spend, spend,” he said. “I ran three businesses. I have always employed over 100 people. I’ve dealt with contracts, negotiations, budgets... I’m a businessman and entrepreneur. I am not used to giving things away. I look for ways to cut.”

Schwall also said that having three independent members of the Board of Selectmen is “a priority.” He said any two selectmen can control the agenda and “right now, Frederick “Skip” Vadnais’s vote is rendered useless.” Vadnais is the third selectman on the board. Schwall’s third top concern was helping the schools, particularly with the financing agreement with Dighton.

“It’s 50 years old and the last time it was discussed was 20 years ago,” Schwall said. “It’s time.”

Foley’s other top two issues were development in town and maintaining Rehoboth’s rural character. He said the problem with the town’s development is some officials are being too relaxed with enforcing the regulations. He also said new ordinances, such as requiring bigger house lots, should be introduced to slow development.

“I put money into the community,” Foley said. “I saved this section of town and this farm [Francis Farm] from becoming house lots. I restored a historical part of this community. I did it. I didn’t just talk about. I put my money out there long before I even thought about this election because I care about this community.”

apina@projo.com