Three candidates are seeking two, three-year terms on the Woolwich selectboard in the Tuesday, Nov. 4 election. Early voting has started. The seats' terms start Jan. 1, 2026.  

Dale Chadbourne

Dale Chadbourne (incumbent) has served on the selectboard 33 years, a number of those years as vice chairman. After graduating from Morse High School in Bath, he started Shad & Son Towing, a towing and wrecker service, offering emergency motor vehicle road service, and based at his home on Thunder Road. For decades Chadbourne was a stockcar racer. As a driver, he had over 70 Motorsport wins and three championships. He’s chalked up another seven championships and over 80 wins as a car owner and crew chief. Most of those victories have been at Wiscasset Speedway, although he’s also raced at other tracks around the state. In 2019, Chadbourne was named to the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame. 

“Some people might say, or think because I don’t speak up at the selectboard meetings that I’m not involved,” began Chadbourne. “That’s not true, I meet and talk to people nearly every day and give voice to residents like me who live in the north end of town.” Listening to people’s concerns and doing his best to solve their problems is what he enjoys most about being on the selectboard, he added. 

Chadbourne said he worries daily about the rising cost of living which impacts senior citizens like himself, and residents on fixed incomes. The selectboard, he continued, keeps a close eye on town spending when it comes to submitting its own budget but added the board has no control over increasing costs associated with the RSU 1 budget for operation of Woolwich Central School, or what the town pays to Sagadahoc County for law enforcement and services. He supported the recently completed town-wide property revaluation, saying in the long run it will be beneficial. Residents, he continued, are now receiving $25,000 in Homestead reimbursement.  

Chadbourne’s first term on the selectboard was in 1992, the year the board went from three to five members. He’s been continually re-elected since, including one term when he didn’t take out nomination papers but still won as a write-in candidate. Chadbourne said he has called Woolwich home since he was a boy; he grew up on a 100-acre family farm on Chopps Cross Road. One of his early memories is rising early to do chores out in the barn, including churning milk. 

Thomas B. Davis

Thomas B. Davis (incumbent) is completing his first term on the selectboard, having been elected in 2023. He’s active on a number of town committees including the Nequasset Park Committee, Public Communications Committee, Public Safety Advisory Committee and the Climate Resilience Committee. Davis is also a steering committee member of the Age Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec, and a trustee of Patten Free Library in Bath. He holds a BA in Computer Science from William & Mary College, and BM in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine. He resides on Wolf Pond Road.

“It has been 16 years since Woolwich last updated its Comprehensive Plan, and now is the ideal time to act,” he stated. “Current citizen outreach efforts connected to a recent resilience committee grant can provide valuable input for shaping this update. A revised plan would also guide the consolidation of our many scattered land use ordinances into one unified document, improving clarity and accessibility.”  

Davis said, “Funding for both the Comprehensive Plan’s update and ordinance consolidation is available through grants we have already secured, and additional support could be pursued through future Community Action Grants and Assistance from the Midcoast Council of Governments.” 

Davis said, “Programs that strengthen our self-sufficiency and support residents are highly valued by our community. Examples include the volunteer driver program organized by the Age Friendly Communities group, the Heating Assistance Program funded by local donations, and the town-managed Emergency Assistance Program.

“These initiatives have proven popular and effective. Equally important is keeping residents informed through thoughtful communications and well-publicized public meetings, ensuring everyone knows how to access these programs and can share emerging community needs. Many grant opportunities exist to develop and enhance such resilience efforts at little or no cost to taxpayers, enabling us to continue building a safer, stronger, and more connected Woolwich,” he added.

“We are at a turning point in how our town manages winter roads,” said Davis. “Woolwich is now responsible for supplying and managing salt and sand, made possible by the purchase of a new salt shed. In addition, new contractors are in place to handle plowing and sanding. These changes bring new types of expenses, responsibilities, and logistics to the town’s operations. It is critical to ensure these arrangements are implemented efficiently, perform as expected, and stay within budget, while maintaining high standards of safety and reliability for all road users.”

Sharing his thoughts on why he’s seeking re-election, Davis said, “I’ve learned in my first term that the Selectboard is strongest when each member brings distinct strengths—and mine consistently complement the team. My background in communications, technology, and finance, combined with decades of entrepreneurship and leadership, helps me turn complex issues into clear, practical choices. I’m proud to have led the effort to bring fiber broadband to Woolwich this past year—proof that experience in technology, leadership, and communication delivers results for residents.”

Mechelle Given

Mechelle Given (challenger) is seeking her first elected office. She’s served for nearly 20 years as the Financial Development Services Counselor, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) based in Brunswick. Her education includes a B.S. in Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management with a pre-law minor. She also holds a Nonprofit Leadership Certificate (MANP), Grant Writing Certificate, HUD-Certified Housing Counselor; HECM (reverse mortgage) certification and has successfully completed Financial literacy/consumer protection training. 

Given is on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers Maine serving Sagadahoc and Lincoln counties. She is a former treasurer for Bath Elks, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Housing Resources for Youth. Her other community service includes participation on United Way Basic Needs Council and CEI Community, Safety & Policy Teams. Given is founder of the Woolwich-based Sasanoa Area Neighborhood Watch Program. 

“Neighbors tell me that everyday costs—from housing and taxes to heat and utilities—are squeezing household budgets,” stated Given. “As a financial counselor, I see how small changes can make a big difference. I will focus on practical, local steps: seeking grants and partnerships that reduce property-charge burdens, supporting seniors to age safely in place, and working with regional partners on energy efficiency upgrades that lower monthly costs.”

“Well-maintained roads, culverts, and drainage protect property and public safety,” Given said. “Equally important is how we communicate about town services, meetings, and emergencies. I support a clear, modern communications plan (website, email/text alerts, and bulletin updates) and a prioritized capital plan so residents know what’s being fixed, when, and how it’s funded.”

Given said, "Woolwich can support thoughtful economic activity while protecting our watersheds, lakes, and streams. We need an updated Comprehensive Plan that balances growth with conservation, and a coordinated emergency management approach that strengthens readiness for storms, flooding, and extended outages. I’ll work to align land use, public safety, and environmental stewardship so we keep Woolwich’s character while planning for the future.

“Across all three areas, my approach is the same: listen first, bring people to the table, run the numbers, and choose solutions that are fair, transparent, and fiscally responsible,” she concluded.

Given said she’s running for selectboard because, “I want Woolwich to remain a welcoming, affordable, and sustainable place to live. For nearly two decades at CEI, I’ve helped families and seniors protect their homes, reduce debt, and make sound plans—work that requires listening carefully, collaborating, and being transparent about tradeoffs. I’ll bring those same skills to town governance. My priorities are straightforward: keep housing affordable, support seniors and veterans, strengthen financial wellness for working families and small businesses, build partnerships that connect neighbors to resources, and ensure open, accountable town government. I will be a steady, respectful voice for all residents.”