Having spent every summer in Wareham when he was growing up, Board of Selectmen candidate Michael Schneider remembers when he could stick his hand in the ocean and "scoop up a handful of scallops."

For that reason, he said he plans to focus on environmental concerns, in addition to issues such as public safety and economic development, if he's elected.

"I want to make sure that Wareham's quality of life is where people want to come, live here, and enjoy themselves," said Schneider. This is the 42-year-old's first run for political office. He has lived in Wareham full-time for 19 years. Though he has not previously held an elected position, he has served on the Wareham Affordable Housing Trust and the School Committee's Transportation Advisory subcommittee.

Last year, Schneider co-founded citizens’ group Move Wareham Forward with fellow Selectman candidate Ellen Begley. The group led an initiative to investigate the safety of Wareham’s school buses. Move Wareham Forward later registered as a political action committeee.

Noting that he supports the new nitrogen bylaw approved by Town Meeting last fall, which requires that new construction of medium-sized developments contribute no nitrogen to Wareham's watershed, Schneider said: “I think we need to keep those kinds of initiatives going.” An article to repeal the bylaw was added to the upcoming spring Town Meeting warrant by way of citizens' petition.

Schneider says the Board of Selectmen needs to “continue to rely on the [volunteer town] boards and committees,” such as the Clean Water Committee, to research and provide initiatives such as that. “I think we need to work with all the stakeholders” on new regulations and “make sure all people have the same goal of keeping water clean,” he said.

Public safety is a big concern of Schneider's, especially due to increased crime in recent months, he said.

“I've been a big supporter of [contract] negotiations with the Police Chief,” said Schneider. The town is looking to hire part-time interim Police Chief Richard Stanley full-time. “I'm disappointed that the [negotiation] process has taken so long,” though he added that he believes the process is continuing as town officials have indicated.

“I think [Chief Stanley] has reinvigorated not only the police department, but he's got the town reinvested in partnering with the police department,” he said.

Schneider applauded the chief's leadership and training of officers, including his work in bringing the community together for last summer's National Night Out, during which the town took a stand against violence.”We need to [come together] as a community as a whole,” Schneider said. If elected, Schneider said he will advocate for Chief Stanley's hiring.

In the area of economic development, Schneider said the town must commit to finding a full-time Community and Economic Development Authority director to advocate for new business. The position has been filled by a part-time consultant since August.

But new business “needs to be compatible with our agricultural and coastal characteristics,” Schneider noted. “We shouldn't accept any business just because it's going to bring up tax revenues.”

Schneider noted that the town should look at successful developments and projects completed elsewhere for ideas.

Schneider sees communication as one of the town's biggest challenges.

“I intend to do my best to reach out to all board and committee members,” Schneider said. He suggests that representatives from town committees have scheduled conversations with the Selectmen at that board's meetings. “We should be listening to those boards and committees as we adopt policy.”

Schneider noted that following and keeping the town's Master Plan up to date, a document written in 1998 which sets forth a vision for Wareham’s future, is another challenge.

“I think there are still a lot of goals in there that we need to achieve,” Schneider said.

Schneider said he will advocate to keep taxes low so that people can afford to live here, while still providing necessary services.

“I'd look to see exactly where we're spending our money,” Schneider said. “We need to make sure that the services we're providing are the services people want.”

In order to determine which services the town should work to provide, “we should be sitting down with the boards and committees and town workers. They all have good ideas,” he said.

If elected, Schneider says that he hopes his legacy would be “that I was a productive and active Selectman [and] was able to make decisions based on the views of the community as a whole” as well as “find common ground … and bring people together.”

Schneider says his 20 years of experience working for the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, a Boston nonprofit, makes him a good candidate for Selectmen. As CEO, he oversaw a $16 million budget and roughly $130 million in assets.

Schneider attended New England Fuel Institute where he earned a certificate in home heating. He is also a Massachusetts licensed Oil Burner Technician and has been certified as a housing occupancy specialist and tax credit specialist. He lives on First Avenue with his wife, Sheila, and has four children.

Schneider said that one of his favorite things about living in Wareham is "seeing [the community] come together," such as it did for the Stop the Violence, Increase the Peace rally, held at the end of February. Another favorite? "Sitting on the beach eating clam cakes."