STONINGTON - The boards of selectmen and education may create their own budgets, but it's the Board of Finance that either gives the green light or tells the boards to make more cuts. Decisions made by the finance board affect how much money the town can bank on for rainy days, how town hall is run, and the interest rate the town must pay.

Two six-year seats on the board are open, but each voter can choose only one of the four candidates running. The two candidates who get the highest number of votes will get the job. In past years, only two choices, a Democrat and a Republican, have been offered. This year, two unaffiliated candidates have also thrown their hats in the ring.

Glenn James Frishman

(Republican)

Incumbent Glenn James Frishman has been on the Board of Finance since 1996, and has been the chairman for most of that time. He explained that the experience he gained over the years makes him worthy of re-election.

"I have a proven track record of success," he said.

He points to Moody's upgrade of the town's credit rating in February, which in turn saved tax dollars, as an example of that. At the time, Moody's cited the town's "practice of conservative budgeting, careful management of reserves, and tight fiscal control." He also noted that his fellow board members have thought enough of his leadership ability to make him chairman.

Recently, he began discussing consolidation of services with the Board of Education, a discussion he said he's been trying to get going for a decade.

"I have a deep commitment to the town of Stonington," he said. "I want to see the taxpayers get the best value for their dollar."

Sandy Grimes (Democrat)

A lifelong resident, Sandy Grimes wants to help the town that has been so good to him over the years. "I grew up here, and the town was good to me," he said. "I just want to serve."

Grimes said he would like to add public comment to the Board of Finance meetings.

"You need to listen to the public. You have to be open to them," he said.

He has experience working with budgets on Stonington Borough's Board of Warden and Burgesses, he said, and on the Stonington Community Center's Board of Directors.

Grimes said he would like to see another zero-increase budget this year, although he admits that will be difficult. It's important though, he said, because he doesn't want to see the town's elderly population forced to sell their homes because they can't pay their property taxes.

"There's a big job to do, and I think I'm qualified to do it," he said.

Robynne E. Madison (petitioning candidate)

The Board of Finance needs to spend more time examining future financial strategies, said Robynne E. Madison.

"There needs to be some forward thought, some strategic planning," she said.

Madison said her job makes her ideally suited for this position.

"I work with budgets, forecasts and strategic planning every day. It isn't years in my past," she explained. Finding cost savings while helping the company grow "requires the ability to keep up with trends, knowing exactly how and on what each dollar in the budget is spent."

Having dug into the town's finances during the last budget season, the Stonington native said she can see areas in the budget that could be cut without a loss of services, saving money somewhere else.

As a political independent, Madison said she holds no party loyalty or bias.

"There's no agenda other than I want to do a good job," she said.

Lynn P. Young (petitioning candidate)

More public input, as well as transparency, is needed in the annual budget process, according to Lynn P. Young. She said she would like to add time for public comment at every Board of Finance meeting, set term limits on board members, put advisory questions on budget ballots, and have a rotating chairmanship.

"It's time for a change," she said.

Young said she has a "highly skilled financial background" that would be an asset to the board. After many years serving on other town boards, she said she knows how the town works, and she has gained a reputation for listening, as well as being fair and objective.

"Things for me are not carved in stone," she noted.

Over the next few years, she surmised that the board will have to deal with a burgeoning education budget in difficult financial times. She said the board's present "vote no philosophy" will cause the town to lose services.

lrovetti@thewesterlysun.com