MARION — The identity of Marion’s next Select Board member has yet to be determined, but one result is guaranteed: He will be new to the board. 

Incumbent John Waterman has opted not to seek re-election, leaving an open seat. The post is being contested by Carleton “Toby’’ Burr and Dr. Ed Hoffer.

Marion town election will be held Friday, May 13 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Benjamin Cushing Center, 465 Mill St. 

Burr has lived in town since 1984 and worked for many years at his family business, Burr Brothers Boats, which was started in 1954. He is now semi-retired.

Burr, 70, who describes himself as “young, but experienced,’’ said the biggest challenge the town faces is financial.

According to the candidate, residents pay “very high water and sewer rates and property taxes’’ along with the town’s need for “a lot of maintenance to buildings and streets.’’ 

The combination, he said, creates “a difficult proposition.’’

But it’s one that must be tackled, he said. 

“People can’t afford to live here, that’s a critical issue,’’ Burr said. “There isn’t anything else that comes close’’ in terms of priorities.

He noted that with the town’s fiscal situation, “every issue needs to be looked at through the lens of the town’s finances.’’

Finding a revenue generator to replace defense contractor Lockheed Martin, which is slated to leave town in 2022, “would help a lot.’’ 

So would bringing in small businesses, he noted, which would require “relatively few town services’’ while providing “a larger tax base.’’

Burr said he also supports a proposed development on Wareham Road that consists of 36 detached homes and 12 attached townhouses, with six buildings of two homes. 

The project is particularly appealing, he stated, because the developer plans to contribute $1.2 million, which would allow the town to extend sewer service to River Road and parts of Wareham Road.

He approves the plan to build new DPW equipment storage areas adjacent to the department’s current administration buildings, although he acknowledges some residents think the project is too costly while others feel the buildings don’t provide ample coverage for the equipment.

He also backs a proposal for a new harbormaster's building. 

In both the DPW and the harbormaster departments, Burr said current conditions “aren’t conducive to an efficiently working department.’’ 

Hoffer, 78, said the time was right for him to run. He works part-time from home doing research for Massachusetts General Hospital, where he worked as a cardiologist prior to his retirement. 

He believes in the tenet: “If you don’t step up and help, then you have no right to criticize.’’

Hoffer described water and sewer rates as “obscene’’ and would “like to get more people on sewer so there can be a broader base’’ and expenses can be shared.

He also seeks “better communication between residents and town government.’’ With 3,500 residents eligible to vote, Hoffer described having only 68 voters deciding on major issues at a recent Town Meeting as “an embarrassment.’’ 

Additionally, the former cardiologist said he supports the infusion of fresh blood into town government. 

“Committees tend to be the same people over and over,’’ he said. 

Hoffer has spoken out about the need for aging residents to remain in town after downsizing into smaller homes. He supports the Wareham Road project, which he said provides exactly that opportunity. 

“This type of housing is badly needed,’’ he said.

He also supports the DPW move. Although he “hates to see that money being spent,’’ the work  “is needed,’’ Hoffer said. “The current facilities are probably close to being condemned.’’

He has been an outspoken critic of the numbers of employees at the harbormaster’s office, which he described as “overkill,’’ particularly during the offseason. 

But he said that, after talking with Harbormaster Isaac Perry, he feels “a little less strongly’’ but stressed the issue still “would really need a closer look.’’

He also wants Tabor Academy “to do more for town.’’ 

“They use our services, faculty members’ kids go to our schools yet they pay no taxes,’’ he said. 

The school recently agreed to pay the town $50,000 a year. 

“That’s a good start,’’ Hoffer said. “But it’s not enough.’’