A: A few reasons. I believe it’s important to give back to the community where we live and have always served, whether as an EMT, a member of the Historic Preservation Board, or a community volunteer. I also know I can continue to have a beneficial and engaged impact as a member of the Select Board and along with my three years of experience, am better equipped than most others. Additionally I have the time required to do this job well. The activities, meetings, planning, coaching, etc take more time than many people realize..

A: If if you asked that question to various town members, each one would have a different answer based on their perspective. Through collaboration with the other selectboard members, town managers, the town clerk, the town treasurer and many others we have improved: 1. Focus, planning, and execution of infrastructure projects including but not limited to the fire station. 2. Engagement and transparency with the public while leveraging civility and respect. i.e. Comprehensive Plan. 3. Expansion and awareness of Castine’s impact on the peninsula, county, and state decisions. 4. Also, there are also many small, unseen things that have made the town stronger, more efficient, or added to its attractiveness.

A: My talent lies in bringing people and ideas together. Everyone in this community is more knowledgeable about something (or many things) that I am not. I, individually, cannot solve every issue, but together WE can.

A: Yes, taxes were just raised at the annual meeting as the voters approved the budget put forth by the Select Board. Unseen though was the work that I and the other Select Board members, our Finance Officer, and Town Manager put in to find methods that kept the tax increase to a minimum versus the original budget proposal. We are playing catch up on some major infrastructure items that were not addressed or well planned in the past. With the current focus and planning on these items, once they are completed, we expect minimal tax impacts in the future. But that will not stop us from seeking alternative funding methods. The State of Maine and we hope the federal government can offer several grant opportunities to aid with the financial impact of these projects.

A: Most of the improvement ideas came from you, our citizens. Thank you all for participating in the gathering of information and then the approval of our Comprehensive Plan. That plan is the guide as to what the town is looking for and in some cases, how to do it. We are currently putting together committees to implement the plan so I’d ask everyone to pitch in a bit and help us out.

A: I would continue to be actively involved in the community and work to represent Castine in peninsula wide endeavors. We need to continue to be actively represented at meetings in Augusta, Hancock County, and on the peninsula which can have a positive effect on our community for services, funding, and cost sharing. I am committed to working with our neighbors as a representative of Castine.