It was standing room only Thursday evening in the Dudley L. Brown VFW in Onset as residents gathered to hear Board of Selectmen candidates and two Deputy Moderator hopefuls introduce themselves and answer questions from voters.

Uncontested candidates Kenneth Fontes and Cliff Sylvia from the School Committee, Board of Assessors candidate Dave Smith, and Constable Steven P. Coughlin also introduced themselves.

The following is a recap of candidate responses. For more information about each candidate, click here to view our candidate profiles. To experience Candidates Night for yourself, check WCTV for rebroadcasts of the event. (We will update this story with scheduled times as soon as the information becomes available.)

The election will be held Tuesday, April 5.

Joseph Ashley and former Town Moderator John Donahue are in the running for the position of Deputy Moderator. The Deputy Moderator fills in when the Town Moderator cannot attend a meeting or must recuse himself or herself from a discussion.

"I'm running because I have the experience and because I want to help," Donahue said, adding that he initiated a number of procedural changes to make Town Meeting more efficient during his nine years as Town Moderator. Among those changes: Adding slideshow presentations of Town Meeting articles, instituting a consent calendar so housekeeping articles could be passed in one fell swoop, and introducing high-school-aged tellers to assist in counting votes. "It's important to have a seasoned Deputy Moderator," he said.

"I believe the best listener is the best leader. ... I am the person that listens and that is why I should be Deputy Moderator of Wareham," said 19-year-old Joseph Ashley. He said he's running to get more young people involved in town governance. "I am the future of Wareham. ... I may be young, but young people in history have done amazing things."

Voters have six Board of Selectmen candidates to choose from to fill two open seats. None are incumbents. They are: Ellen Begley, current Finance Committee chair Donna Bronk, former-Selectman John Cronan, Frank DeFelice, Jennifer Petersen, and Michael Schneider. The candidates answered questions about topics such as water pollution and economic development.

Will you support any endeavors to reduce nitrogen in Wareham's watershed?

"I support any endeavor to reduce nitrogen in our water. Sewer users are paying to eliminate nitrogen. I think cranberry bog owners need to." - Ellen Begley

"I believe we should listen to the experts. We shouldn't jump the gun [on new regulations]." - Donna Bronk

"Something needed to be done, something was done. ... If somebody comes up with something better, we'll all sit down at the table and take a look at it." - John Cronan, referencing a new nitrogen bylaw passed at October Town Meeting requiring that that new construction of medium-sized developments contribute no nitrogen to Wareham's watershed.

"I'm not in favor because there is no system that can come up with zero nitrogen." - Frank DeFelice, referencing the new nitrogen bylaw.

"I'm in favor of the efforts to have cleaner water. In relation to the warrant article, I think it's a little extreme." - Jennifer Petersen

"I support all reasonable efforts to reduce nitrogen in our waters. ... Nitrogen in our waters effects our economic abilities because we rely heavily on our coastal characteristics." - Michael Schneider, noting that nitrogen impacts the shellfish crop.

What would promote development in Wareham?

"I don't think it's necessary to build anything. There are a lot of empty storefronts." - Ellen Begley

"I'd like to see some good, high-paying jobs. Not just seasonal jobs. I want to see opportunity for [a business] to grow." - Donna Bronk

"You've got to try to bring some companies here. ... If you could bring someone in, a [Community and Economic Development Authority] director, ... the storefronts would be full because they'd have the [business]people there to support them." - John Cronan

Wareham's "beaches are underused. ... Put [Town Administrator Mark Andrews'] leadership team on two things: get them going on the beach and get them going on [vacancies in] East Wareham." - Frank DeFelice

"Build in the Onset area. ... Try to create some foot traffic. There aren't a lot of stores yet. We want to promote business that will get people to walk around. ... It's not about development, it's about promotion so when people are surfing the Internet for vacation spots, we come up." - Jennifer Petersen

"We need to make sure that [development] is consistent with the character of our community. ... Development in Onset Center and Wareham Center has to be consistent with the character of a Victorian seaside village. ... I also think that a $30 million investment in the train coming to Cranberry Highway would be a terrific investment in our community. ...We should be the hub. There's no reason for people to be going over the bridge to go to beaches and visit shops." - Michael Schneider

There were several discussions regarding the potential salary of part-time interim Police Chief Richard Stanley, who is in contract negotiations with the town for the full-time chief's position. Stanley makes roughly $133,000 in North Andover, where he currently serves as full-time chief. Questions asked candidates how much they would be willing to pay to get Stanley in Wareham full-time and how they felt about the Superintendent of Schools making a higher salary than the Police Chief.

"We need to look at performance. We have seen extraordinary changes in the [Police] Department's morale and training. I would pay the man the money. He's worth his weight in gold." - Ellen Begley

"The Superintendent is worth every dime he's paid. I think the Police Chief has earned what he's asking for. ... I'd love to pay him, but there's only so much in the pot." - Donna Bronk

"The education of the children in the community is vital. ... I'd pay [Stanley] the money. ... His resume is impeccable. ... These people's resumes speak for themselves." - John Cronan

"I say we can bring somebody in there that can do it because we have the police force that can do it. ... We don't really need [Stanley]." - Frank DeFelice

"I believe it is the role of the Town Administrator to do an analysis and to evaluate a comparable salary. ... Comparing a Superintendent's [salary] to Police Chief is comparing apples to oranges. I'd like to see the Chief stay to mentor and promote within the department in the next couple of years." - Jennifer Petersen

"I agree. ... Comparing the Police Chief to the Superintendent of Schools is like apples and oranges. ... The School Superintendent doesn't carry a gun and he's not responsible for the safety of an entire community. ... [Stanley] is a leader and he knows how to teach. He's a mentor of his staff. ... He's well worth the investment. ... He's investing in our police force." - Michael Schneider

At the end of the evening, candidates were given two minutes to sum up what they wanted voters to know.

"I am a nurse. That is easily transferable to the town. I care about healthy people, I care about a healthy town. ... Let's come together, form a plan. ... I want to help be a leader for this town." - Ellen Begley

"I have got the business experience. I'm your FinCom chairman. I know what we are facing. I have been working with boards in this town. ... I can get along with the Devil himself." - Donna Bronk

"[I am] hardworking, honest, fair, independent. That's what you want. That's what you need." - John Cronan

"Almost every day I either see the Assessor, Town Clerk, Town Accountant. I do my own budget. I have people working under me. I know how town government works." - Frank DeFelice, who works as the Inspector of Buildings/Building Commissioner in the Town of Eastham.

"I feel I have the experience of working in teams. ... I have the skills to bring out the work you all do. ... The goal is to have Wareham be seen as a valued town." - Jennifer Petersen

"If you're looking for someone with experience with budgets and community building, I have over 20 years experience. ... I'm committed to a better Wareham." - Michael Schneider