By FRANK TUTALO
Sun Staff

WILMINGTON -- The MBTA's plan to build a parking lot in the town's center appears to be the focus of the selectmen's race as the campaign hits its final days.

Board Chairman Robert Cain and challengers Daryn Marsh and Mark Nelson are vying for one post on the Board of Selectmen this Saturday in the townwide elections. In addition, three candidates are running uncontested for the School Committee; polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cain says he is running for re-election largely because he wants to continue to fight against the commuter parking lot pushed by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for the center of town. Meanwhile, another candidate, Mark Nelson, says Cain's opposition has been a smoke screen, serving only as a "false hope" to townspeople.

"The MBTA is not going to go away," said Nelson, who has ran unsuccessfully three times for selectmen in the last three years. "I look at them as the 900-pound gorilla. Now, the town doesn't have money in place for the Route 38 corridor expansion."

Nelson, a construction contractor, claimed yesterday the stalled state-road expansion project is the result of the way town officials attacked the MBTA for its proposed lot over the last year.

Fellow challenger Marsh, 35, of Adams Street, agrees that the MBTA has flexed its muscles on the project. But like Cain, he stands opposed to it.

"This could have worked out a lot better for the businesses down there," said Marsh, a union electrician who serves as pastor at the Wilmington Baptist Fellowship Church.

A lifelong town resident, Marsh says he is running because he wants to represent residents' sentiment. It is his first political race.

Marsh says his church duties have made him a good listener, which, he said, is a quality many selectmen don't have. But standing in his way is the seven-term incumbent Cain.

"I want to be on the board to continue to be a voice for the people," said Cain, 66, of Arlene Avenue, who has served on the board since 1978. "I have a lot of pride in the town, and I've been here for three (town) managers so I've seen a lot."

While Marsh is refraining from personal attacks, Nelson is assailing Cain on several fronts.

"He's been there for 23 years," Nelson said. "I think he's been there six years too long. I don't think he's been the same since (Selectman) Mike McCoy punched him out in the hallway."

Cain, meanwhile, is flabbergasted that Nelson is raising the 1989 incident.

"Mr. McCoy and I have dealt with the problems we've had," Cain said. "They're in the past. And we're not holding any grudges.

"Here's a guy who is just throwing stones and not offering any solutions."

Cain points to Nelson's claim that the $46 million town budget is not $55 million, as Nelson states, as proof that the challenger simply wants to throw grenades at the public to confuse them.

"There's no such budget," Cain said. "If someone worked for me and made a $9 million mistake, I'd fire him on the spot. He needs to get real."

While the MBTA issue is high on everyone's campaign list, Nelson believes the Eames-Street based Olin Corp.'s hazardous waste plume and its effects are more important for residents.

Nelson alleges that the town is acting lackadaisical in dealing with that site and several other environmental boondoggles, such as Rocco's Landfill and Kelly Hill. He wants to move more swiftly on the hazardous waste issues.

Nelson blames his mediocre showings in past races on a lackluster voter turnout.

But this year, Nelson is stepping up the campaign, spending $1,000 by putting ads in a weekly newspaper, distributing fliers and starting his own Web site (www.nlsn.net).

Cain has spent $600, while Marsh has spent $29.