The race for Select Board has become crowded in recent weeks, with first-time candidates Amanda Frost, Russel Kriehn and Deneen Rose joining the race. 

Frost, Kriehn and Rose join three other candidates who have taken out nomination papers for the open two-year seat on the Select Board. 

Former Wareham Courier Editor Sarah Corbitt, former Select Board Member Brenda Eckstrom and former planning department intern Jared Fredrickson all took out nomination papers earlier in February. 

Frost said she decided to run due to former Select Board member Tricia Wurtz resigning from her seat. She said Wurtz had plans for communication among Wareham residents, an area Frost thinks needs improvement. 

“I have been to town meetings, spoke at those meetings, attended [Wareham Redevelopment Authority] meetings and still felt that my voice was not being heard,” Frost said.

Frost said chief among her concerns are the town’s plans to renovate the Main Street area, the town’s tax rates, the prospect of adding large residential complexes to a “failing” sewer system and the issues parents have with the school system, including bullying and assistance on the buses. 

Deneen Rose said she has been considering running for Select Board for a long time. “At the time I wanted to run, it was just not the right time for me, but I feel that now is the time to serve my town,” she said. 

Rose has volunteered at the Dudley L. Brown VFW post in Onset for 20 years and hosts an annual Christmas dinner for veterans, seniors and those in need. She also serves on the Wareham Cultural Council Committee, the Oak Grove Cape Verdean Cultural Center and as the president of the Onset Cape Verdean Festival Association. 

“I have been doing [work] for my community for many years, whether it be making meals and giving them to the elderly and those in need or just trying to help someone who needs to talk,” Rose said.

Russel Kriehn has worked as an electrician with his own electrical business; when his wife opened up a medical practice on Main Street, he joined as the practice manager. 

While he described himself as a “fresh out of the box” candidate, he said he wants to get involved in politics in town. He said a letter from Superintendent Matt D’Andrea talking about the state of the school’s budget cuts made him “a little discouraged,” and he questioned why the school had to give up so much money. 

As an electrician, Kriehn tried to get things done, he said. “I like organization; I like things being completed.” He said he would bring that same energy to the Select Board. 

There is still time to take out nomination papers for town positions. The last day for completed nomination papers to be returned is Tuesday, March 19 at 5 p.m.

Editor’s note: The original version of this article misspelled Deneen Rose’s name. This has been corrected as of 9 a.m., Friday, March 15.