The tone of the sanitary district board candidates appears to be shaping up as voting for long-time board experience or fresh newcomers’ ideas.

The four candidates vying for two vacancies on the five-member board spoke at a Sept. 21 forum co-hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Cultural & Civic Association.

The incumbents seeking re-election are Gregg Dudash and Thomas Reski. Opposing them are Tony Finocchio and Scott Sommer.

The sanitary election will be encompassed in the all-mail Nov. 7 ballot for town residents. The last day to register is Tuesday, Oct. 10. Monday, Oct. 9, is Columbus Day, a county holiday.

Sommer said he decided to run for the board because he was concerned that a contested election has not been held in more than a decade. Actually, the last sanitary district board election was in November 2005. He also commented that the current board does not represent individuals of diverse backgrounds and experience.

Although never employed by a water reclamation district, Sommer said he would bring financial management and software development skills to the board. He owns and operates a local heating and air conditioning firm.

“Change is good,” said Finocchio in reference to opponent Reski, who has been on the board since 2003, and Dudash, who was appointed in 2015.

“I believe that the citizens of Fountain Hills should have a say on who is spending their tax dollars,” said Finocchio.

He said he favors term limits. When questioned by an audience member, he said two terms for a total of eight years.

“You don’t need to know about wastewater to manage a board and people,” Finocchio added. He majored in accounting and later earned a master’s degree in criminal justice. He rose to the rank of police lieutenant in Chicago. He and his wife previously operated a business of 75 employees.

Reski founded Quantum Integrated Solutions, a firm that works with engineering, control systems and computer integration. He said he has served 16 years on the sanitary board “because nobody wanted the job.”

Dudash cited his 27-year employment with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. He worked in the district’s human resources department and later in computer systems. He said he has been involved in budgeting in the local district.