COVENTRY – The Town of Coventry will have one of its most competitive races for town council in recent years with five names on the ballot.

Douglas B. Besemer and Marion L. Ireland will be on the ballot twice, as Democrats and on the “Earth Friendly” ticket. Gwendolyn M. Hinman and Thomas A. Sisk will run on the Republican ticket and Daniel M. Clark will run as an independent on the “We the People” platform.

Besemer, 72, is running for council for the second time in his life despite the fact that the first was 20 years ago. A retired music teacher at Afton Central Schools, Besemer currently works as the assigned pastor of Horton Valley Parish of the United Methodist Church.

The candidate said he decided to run for office because there have been various issues on hold for many years and that specific difficulties faced over the last two years have only exacerbated the situation.

“We need a change in leadership right straight across the board,” he said. “It’s the same play with a different cast of characters ... What many people want is a new script.”

If elected, his goal would be to create a more open government as well as bring more civility and integrity to the board. He explained that instead of thinking of the “heydays” of the town, the community should “think in a more positive vein and look towards the future.”

Besemer is president of the Coventry Town Museum Association as well as the cofounder, with Clark, of the Community Events Committee, which strives to bring entertainment to Coventry.

Incumbent Ireland, 65, has served two consecutive terms on the town council and said that her goal, if re-elected, would be to add more transparency and openness. She explained that she wanted to see more discussion and comments on specific issues.

Proposed projects such as energy generating windmills have been discussed but, in her opinion, aren’t cost effective for the town and the taxpayer. Other budgetary issues also worry her.