Scott W. Doherty, 45, is a lobsterman and 1981 graduate of Scarborough High School. He and is hiwf have four children ranging from 18 months to 18 years old.

Q: Why are you running for one of three seats on the Town Council?

A: I have been watching Scarborough politics for 20 years. It started with the building of the new Town Hall and then the cost of overhead associated with that building. The money we spent on the Town Hall and Memorial Park could have paid for fire houses and gymnasiums. All we have done is to build new buildings. Memorial Park cost nearly $1 million, instead of the $400,000 we had budgeted at the time.

Q: What is the most important issue facing Scarborough Town Council?

A: To slow the rapid pace of development and have more democratic input from the Scarborough people. I believe we have been ill-served by many of our Town Council representatives and think that there should be more referendums and less Council decision-making.

Q: How do you feel about the proposal to add slot machines at Scarborough Downs and develop the property there?

A: My first instinct is to say no. I don’t like the idea. I believe it would lead to tax increases. The more development and services that go in, the more taxes seem to go up. Look at Freeport’s outlet stores. Also I am a little concerned about the social impact as the slots may encourage people to gamble who shouldn’t.

Q: What needs to be done in terms of replacing or renovating one or both Scarborough Middle School and Wentworth Intermediate schools?

A: Regarding Wentworth Intermediate, I am against flattening it. Also, we have a new middle school and I can’ t see getting rid of that. Politics says demolish, but adding another wing to the middle school and replacing some of the temporary buildings at Wentworth should suffice.

Q: Haigis Parkway was originally designed for biotech development, yet it has become mainly retail. How would you attract more biotechnology companies to the area and campus- style office space?

A: I think this is a case where you let the (free) market take care of itself. I don’t believe in giving companies tax breaks to come to the area and then tax residents to pay for sewer systems and other utilities.

Q: Should the town do more to conserve/protect land and if so, what?

A: I believe the town has moved too fast on development, whether it be knocking down the Town Hall and rebuilding it, or building Memorial Park or more housing. I believe Scarborough should spend less on development, more on ballfields and installing better rain run-off.

Q: How do you feel about what the town did recently in Black Point Park?

A: I believe the town went above the wishes of the people in building this park. I pushed to stop the phasing in of that project.

Scarborough Town Council – Scott W. Doherty – Seeks more citizen input on issues