BY SUSAN WARE

Selectman Joe Duarte said he is fed up with the vocal minority that is trying to stall the development of town-owned land off Exit 3 on Route 101.

“As long as I’m here, the people of Candia are going to get what they want. But I’m the one in the limelight, and honestly, I’m getting tired of being clobbered,” said Duarte.

Duarte is spearheading an effort to bring a mid-sized grocery store and pharmacy to an outlying area of town. In order to be sure this is what the people want, he is taking several measures, including a forum, petitions and the creation of a resident panel to assist the Board of Selectmen.

“Over and over we hear from folks who have to carpool to get groceries, or seniors who have to drive 10 miles for prescriptions and teens who can’t find a job. It isn’t right,” said Duarte.

Opponents of the project say that Candia’s quaint character and rural charm would be lost if commercialism is allowed to creep in.

Supporters say that the town is letting progress pass them by and that the days of having to travel for food, medication and other necessities are over.

Town Meeting has already given selectmen the authority to sell the main piece – a 9.5-acre lot of the three lots parcel off of Route 101.

Two other lots – .96 acres and 2.5 acres need voter approval before they can be sold. The .96-acre lot needs to be included in the sale because it offers a curb cut.

“When I ran for selectman, I promised to be the voice of the residents. I told them to tell me what they want, and I’ll do what the majority wants,” said Duarte.

In March 2003 the town voted to buy the last piece of a three-parcel lot for the sole purpose of courting a developer. The project, which has been batted around town hall for more than 20 years, didn’t gain any ground after the purchase.

But on July 16, a standing room-only crowd at a public forum gave the Board of Selectman the green light to move forward with the development. After dozens of residents spoke in support, Duarte conducted a roll call and three-quarters of the audience, including all selectmen, stood up in approval.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Duarte said that not all of the selectmen are on board with the plan, and that politics forced them to stand in support.

To further gauge what residents want, selectmen placed petitions – one in favor of developing the land, the other against – at prominent spots around Candia, such as town hall, the library and Stubby’s Place.

Duarte said that 304 have signed in favor, and 23 signed against.

For Duarte, it is clear that the majority of people in town want this project to come to fruition. But the vocal minority is the faction that is making things tough, said Duarte.

“Only five or six people spoke against the project during the forum, that’s because they all sit in corners and hide and don’t say anything, then they show up in numbers at the selectmen’s meeting and slam me from every corner,” said Duarte.
The July 16 forum was heated at times and that hasn’t stopped, said Duarte.

As requested at the forum, the selectmen have begun forming a resident panel to assist with the project, and so far three residents – Betsy Kruse, John Cole and Charlie Bowman – all with histories of civic involvement in town, have requested to be on the panel.

Duarte is pleased with the balance that these residents bring to the panel and said the panel will be a great help to the board because they will ensure that residents get exactly the development that they want.

“I’m not getting paid a million dollars to do this, but I will tell you this, that I will do whatever it takes to get the majority what they want. And it seems they have spoken, they want a grocery store,” said Duarte.

If a resident is interested in a seat on the panel, send a letter of interest to the Candia Board of Selectmen by Aug. 10.