Matt Riiska, left above, and Sue Dyer, second from left, answered questions from a panel of Norfolk Now journalists before an audience at Infinity Hall on October 24. Both are running for the position of first selectman in the election this month. Sue Dyer, a Democrat, is the incumbent and has held the post for 16 years. Matt Riiska, an unaffiliated candidate, is challenging her for the first time.

Sue Dyer, the incumbent first selectman, drew the audience’s attention to the many grants she had received to improve the town.

Matt Riiska, who has served on many town committees, emphasized his skills as a communicator.

They answered questions from the panel during the first half hour on the subject of taxes, affordable housing, downtown revitalization, green energy and road salt. During a second half hour, they took questions from the audience. The subjects ranged from regionalization, to the possibility of farming out town work to outside contractors, to the need for increased drug education.

Near the end of the hour, Molly Ackerly, a Norfolk resident, raised her hand to offer a comment: “It’s so nice to have debaters actually answer questions instead of pontificating.”

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.