A man who has been road commissioner for 29 years faces a contest for that post Nov. 6.

Incumbent Jack Shaw is opposed by Joe Creamer, who believes many improvements are needed on town roads. Both men own local businesses that do road work.

Polls at Woolwich Central School will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The job, which once was for three years, is now a one-year proposition.

Shaw said he works for the town on an “as-needs” basis. He said he charges according to state Department of Transportation rates, which vary greatly from one task to the other.

“I have always used those rates through everything I’ve done,” he said. “I have never gone over budget — ever.”

As Shaw explained it, the town has separate paving, signs and maintenance accounts. Paving projects, he said, are bid out. He does maintenance work as needed, Shaw said.

“I’m elected by the people without a salary,” he said. “What I do do is the work.”

Shaw said he has a good relationship with the town and its residents. “I like working for the people,” he said.

Creamer said many roads need safety improvements, and that more road work should go out to bid.

“We have a lot of winding roads here in Woolwich,” he said. “I’d like to see some double yellow lines. Guard rails are needed. Guard rails save lives. There’s a pretty big drop-off on some of our roads.”

As road commissioner, Creamer said he would work with utilities to make sure poles are set as far back as possible.

Creamer, who once was a public works foreman in Bath, said he knows how to handle budgets. The town should budget for work that is needed to improve the safety of its roads, he said.

lgrard@timesrecord.com