Walter Martone challenges for Select Board

For many people in Springfield, the name Walter Martone might be relatively unknown. Martone, however, is hoping to change that by running for the Springfield Select Board.
http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/walter-martone-challenges-select-board

Walter Martone Challenges for Select Board Submitted by VT Journal on Tue, 02/17/2015 - 2:33pm By LAUREN DRASLER The Shopper SPRINGFIELD, VT -For many people in Springfield, the name Walter Martone might be relatively unknown. Martone, however, is hoping to change that by running for the Springfield Select Board. With the election on March 3, Martone has recently campaigned by going door-to-door, making phone calls, and hosting parties to get his name and ideas out to the people of Springfield. “My biggest disadvantage is that I don’t have the name recognition my opponents do,” Martone said. “But I’m trying to get my name out there, and make myself known by campaigning at the transfer station, and having my supporters write letters-to-the-editor in local newspapers.” Currently, there are two seats available on the Select Board, but four people are running for the two spots. The candidates are: Carol Cole, Peter MacGillivary, Walter Martone and David Yesman. MacGillivary and Yesman are the incumbent candidates, and Cole and Martone are running against them. Martone, who has lived in Springfield for seven years, decided to run for the Select Board after realizing that he had some good ideas for Springfield. “I deliberately chose to retire in Springfield,” Martone said. “I found myself doing a lot of complaining about the same things. So I thought that I shouldn’t be a whiner, and instead do something about the things I wanted to change.” After realizing that running for Select Board was the best option for him, Martone submitted his application to the Budget Advisory Committee and began campaigning. According to Martone, his main focus is the property tax rate, but also the provision of town services and improving Springfield’s downtown and Main Street. “I’m concerned about the property tax rate, and I would like to see the provision of services between Springfield and other towns,” he said. “I think we can work with other towns in the surrounding area, which would help Springfield to allocate funds to other aspects of town. I would also like to focus my attention on the downtown area, and help people in town decide what to do to attract businesses to Springfield.” Martone hopes that by talking with residents of Springfield, a plan can be made for re-establishing the downtown and Main Street. “We need to figure out what people want in downtown, whether it be retail businesses or restaurants. If people can decide, then we can figure out how to attract businesses to this area,” he said. “We are in a great location, in that we aren’t far from Dartmouth, Claremont, Keene and the Upper Valley. If we can attract young families to come to Springfield, so they can be close to these attractions, we can boost the economy, and increase the population in Springfield’s schools.” Though Martone has many ideas about how to rejuvenate Springfield, he said he can’t do it alone. “I plan to work with area organizations like Springfield On The Move and work closely with Bob Flint to help this town,” he said. “There are some things that are under-funded here, and I think that by turning Springfield into a full-service town, meaning allocating resources, we can help boost the economy and raise funds. Everything must be on the table.” Martone said that another platform he is running on for Select Board is dilapidated housing in town. Martone said that there are laws and ordinances in place that should hold property owners in town accountable for the way their properties look. “If you own a building or a home in town, you need to be held accountable for it,” he said. “Landlords need to take care of their facilities, and there are things on the books to hold people accountable, but we need to actually enforce these laws.” Though Martone is interested in a variety of issues affecting Springfield, he said that he wants voters to know that he is also qualified to be a Select Board member because of his past history in local government in California. According to a “Walter Martone for Selectman” flyer, Martone has had “35 years experience in local government including public works, community services, job training, senior citizens services and transportation.” “In California, I facilitated relationships between various local government agencies,” Martone said. “I also operated a coffee shop. When I bought it, it wasn’t functional, but I renovated the business and it’s still operating today. I am also a volunteer for Springfield Restorative Justice and a member of the Springfield Budget Advisory Committee.” Martone may have numerous qualifications, and although he hopes the people of Springfield vote for him for Select Board, he said that he has already learned a lot from his run for office. “This whole process has been wonderful, regardless of the outcome,” he said. “The people of Springfield have been very welcoming, and they have been very supportive. Even if I’m not elected, I’ve gotten people to think about my ideas, and that’s what I hoped to do all along.” - See more at: http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/walter-martone-challenges-select-board#sthash.lgcDQUsP.dpuf