Candidate John Cronan, vying for his second term on the Board of Selectmen after he was defeated in his re-election bid last year, said he plans to work on promoting fiscal responsibility, capital planning, and driving economic development if he wins a seat on the Board of Selectmen.

"I think the fiscal responsibility of the Selectmen is vital. I think they need to be more aware of what is going on," Cronan said, adding that he wants to work with Town Administrator Mark Andrews, town department heads, and the School Department to facilitate communication on the budget.

The budget "just seems to be a nasty battle every year. ... If you don't work together, it's not going to work," said Cronan. "I want to make sure that we work on the budget and make sure the dollars are being spent in the proper way."

He said his previous time on the Board of Selectmen will be an asset if he is elected.

"Experience pays," Cronan said. "I worked hard for the people of Wareham. ... The experience I got made me realize that the people really want you to work hard and they want you to work for them." He also spent nine years on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

In addition to examining the yearly budget, Cronan said he would like to help the town do more in planning for capital expenses.

"We need to have a good game plan for keeping what we have operable," he said, citing Municipal Maintenance as a department that especially needs funding.

The town must find a way to pay for routine maintenance so "you wouldn't need to put in major repairs," Cronan said, adding that the budget should allow for the hiring of craftsmen such as carpenters and painters to provide that maintenance. "Find the money [for maintenance], and if that needs to be part of a five- or ten-year [capital] plan, you need to do that."

The first step in promoting economic development is to find a full-time Community and Economic Development Authority (CEDA) director to attract businesses to Wareham, Cronan said. The position has been filled by a part-time consultant since August.

"You're not going to attract business to the town unless its advertised," he noted, adding that incentives should be offered to "keep businesses from packing up and leaving."

Until a full-time CEDA director can be hired, Cronan said the Board of Selectmen and Andrews should do more to help owners of small businesses and shopping plazas, such as they did with the owner of the Cranberry Commons plaza, the site of the old Ocean Spray factory that was destroyed by a fire last March.

"The small businesses need to know that you're here to help," Cronan said. "If you ask these owners what they need, they'll tell you."

Cronan said he's pleased with the performance of Andrews, whom he helped hire during his term on the Board of Selectmen, and is eager to work with him again. He is also pleased with the performance of part-time interim Police Chief Richard Stanley. But, he said: "I think the contract negotiations have gone on for too long."

If elected, Cronan said he hopes he will be remembered as someone who was fair in his service to the town. "You don't have to like me," he said, "but in the end, you [could] say, 'You know, he was a fair guy.'"

Cronan has a bachelor's degree in construction engineering from the Wentworth Institute of Technology and currently works as a construction superintendent.

Cronan said he is willing to put in the time and effort necessary and pointed out that he only missed one or two meetings during his three years on the Board.

"I really love the Town of Wareham. I like the people in it, I liked helping them, and I think I can do a good job being back in there," Cronan said. He added: "I can work with anybody who's on that board."

Cronan, 51, has lived in Wareham for more than 23 years. He and his wife, Deborah, live on Charge Pond Road and have three children: 23-year-old Jennifer, 19-year-old John Jr., and 14-year-old James. The family has a dog named Lucky.