With the only contested race for first selectman in Valley towns, Essex residents will choose on Nov. 3 between incumbent Democrat Norm Needleman or current Republican Selectman Bruce Glowac.

Serving as first selectman for two terms, Needleman, who moved his business and his family to Essex in the ’80s, says he loves being first selectman.

“I love the job. I think public service is a great calling and I look forward to continuing the work I have done here over the years and completing the projects I have started in town, such as the infrastructure projects,” said Needleman. “I think the residents of this town like what we have done. I am proud of our record and our accomplishments over the past two terms.”

He added, “I have gone through hurricanes and snow storms with the town, and I think the town has been very well served with minimal changes to the budget.”

Needleman will be running with two-term incumbent Democratic Selectman Stacia Libby. He said that if re-elected, some of his main points of interest would be working to bring a 21st century approach to delivering town services to the residents.

“This would mean a major IT services upgrade. I think it’s time for that. This is 2015 and I feel that we are still operating the same we have been for the past 50 years,” said Needleman. “I would also work to bring all the departments together to be more aligned with one another and to set a paradigm for how small towns in the area deliver service to their residents. At the same time I will continue to work to keep taxes low and spending at a minimum with a well balanced budget.”

Glowac is running with selectman candidate Phil Beckman, a former U.S. Navy officer who retired from the service last year.

Glowac, who served as first selectman in town from 1991-1995, is the director of facilities for Region 4 schools. However, he has stated that if elected, he’ll retire from his position with Region 4 and devote 100 percent of his time to the first selectman post.

“When I served as first selectman in the past, I enjoyed a great deal of satisfaction from working for and with the community at that level,” said Glowac, a native of the area with more than 30 years of public service experience.

Glowac’s main concerns are making town government friendlier to business and residents, simplifying the permitting processes in town, continuing to provide the high level of education to students, stabilizing taxes, and continuing infrastructure projects.

“I think our current board works well together. Norm has done a good job as first selectman. However, I think one advantage to change at the top level is the fact that we all have different expertise and management styles.”

In the Board of Finance race, the Republicans nominated Geri MacMillian and former Selectman Vince Pacileo and Democrats have nominated incumbents Fred Vollono and Donald Mesite.

Democrats nominated incumbent Jennifer Clark for a new six-year term on the Region 4 Board of Education and Republicans have nominated Mary Louise Till for the seat. Republicans nominated incumbent D.G. Fitton for the local Board of Education and Democrats nominated incumbent board Chairman Lon Seidman.

Democrats nominated Mark Bombaci and former member Richard Helmecki for Board of Assessment Appeals and Republicans have nominated Bruce MacMillian and Keith Russell.