KENNEBUNK — He’s spent 44 years in various roles in the Town Clerk’s Office in two Maine communities and Merton Brown, elected Kennebunk town clerk in 2014, couldn’t be happier.

“I love coming to work every day,” said Brown on Thursday, one day after he was recognized statewide for his contributions to the profession. “And I get such phenomenal support from this Board of Selectmen, the town manager —  and the people have been so incredible to me.”

Brown is the recipient of the 2017 Lorraine M. Fleury Award, presented by Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap during the Maine State Elections Administration Conference in Newry on Wednesday. 

The Secretary of State’s Office annually solicits nominations for the award, named for Fleury, a long-time state director of elections. The award is presented to recognize and honor an individual who has made a significant contribution to the election process and who exemplifies the qualities of fairness, experience, knowledge and service.

Brown’s love of municipal government came early. He was 12 years old and went “missing” from his home in Bethel for a while one day. When he returned, his mother asked where he had been.

“I went to a Town Meeting and I love it,” he told his mother. On Thursday, Brown recalled that Town Meeting back in the early 1960s had involved a disagreement about zoning issues. “I never missed another one after that,” he said. Even if he’s traveling out-of-town, he’ll turn on a local channel and watch their council or board of selectmen’s meeting.

“I think it is in your blood,” he said.

Brown was appointed town clerk in Bethel in 1975 and served 21 years, moving to Kennebunk with his wife, Martha Wentworth Brown, in 1996. He worked in various full- and part-time capacities and on special projects under former Town Clerk Ethelyn Marthia until her death in 2006. Brown was named deputy town clerk at that time, and was elected town clerk in 2014. The position later became appointed, rather than elected.

Besides elections, the Town Clerk’s Office records and maintains vital statistics, issues hunting and fishing licenses, marriage, victualer, lodging, liquor, special amusement and dog licenses, registers boats, ATVs and snowmobiles, keeps track of business registrations, is the custodian of town records and even sells plots in the community garden. 

The office visits six health care related facilities so residents there may vote, and just wound down a drive at Kennebunk High School, registering students who eligible to vote.

He has taught numerous courses through the Maine Municipal Association for new town clerks, Town Meeting and elections and vital records, to name a few. 

In Kennebunk, the polls open at 6 a.m. on election day so folks may vote on their way to work, rather than on the way home. It is a policy that works for voters — and for the Town Clerk’s Office, easing, to some degree, the rush that takes place in the 4 to 7 p.m. timeframe.

Brown has two assistants, Deputy Town Clerk Carrie Weeman and assistant Tabetha Barden and during elections, up to 40 part-timers.

“They love working,” said Brown. “And if you’re done your pre-work, it runs somewhat like a ballet.”

There were kudos from Secretary of State Dunlap:

“The integrity and efficiency of the election process depends almost entirely on the devoted service of municipal elections officials,” said Dunlap. “It’s always a challenge to single any one of them out, but the acknowledgement and praise from co-workers, neighbors, colleagues, and the elected officials who also serve our communities makes this an incredibly gratifying process.”

Brown is looking toward the June primary — and beyond. He’s got 44 years of municipal service under his belt, and would like to make it an even 50.

“I love it,” he said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.