I moved to the Midcoast from Northwest Ohio 35 years ago when driving through Camden after helping my brother refit a boat. I crossed the town and county line into Lincolnville 22 years ago to be with the woman I love. (And try and finish building the house we live in.)

I deeply appreciate what opportunities this area has afforded me, and so have spent a good portion of my time in Lincolnville “doing Town business” – starting as an Election Clerk counting votes, to being on various Town committees and Boards, to currently serving on the Selectboard and Conservation Commission. The rest of the time I spent making money pounding nails, painting buildings, washing dishes, driving a bus, leading kayak camping trips as Registered Maine Guide, managing a woodlot - and trying to finish up on the house.

I believe there are quite a few challenges currently facing Maine – and our part of Waldo County in particular. But to meet those, we here have remarkable assets. Neighbors genuinely care about each other, we help each other often no matter what, and we actively participate in democracy.  (Even if we don’t always like the way things seem to be going.) There’s simply a “sense of place” hereabouts where a respect for our neighbors, town and surrounding area translate into a better future for everyone.

Maine’s a place that shares and even builds on the common sense, get-it-done values I grew up with in the Midwest, but when I go back there to visit, I find that the fields I cut through or played ball in or went pheasant hunting with my dad are now paved and developed. I’m not at all against landowners getting the most out of their property, but seeing that area lose its habitat and a way of life makes me hope that doesn’t happen here in some UNPLANNED way.  Where out-of-state interests make the call rather than we who live here. As your Rep, I will work to enhance area-wide planning initiatives that towns can take advantage of.

I was a Registered Maine Guide for some time, leading kayaking groups on camping trips, earning their trust, and getting them from A to B and back again. That kind of group interaction is great. But I've also seen our state's habitat disappear from development, negligence in regard to our resources, and misguided policy. I will work to make developers accountable, the permitting process transparent, and keep alive Mainer’s love for their environment.

I’ve also seen our state's habitat and weather change because of the climate. My favorite put-in, (Steve’s Island in Penobscot Bay) is a low , gently rising beach of shells. It’s magic the sounds that the lapping water makes as it washes across. But future paddlers will not experience this because of rising sea levels. So I will work to ensure that Maine’s current Climate Action Plan continues as a sensible way forward for our childrens’ future. So they can benefit from the Maine outdoors like I’ve been able to.

In doing Town business for over 20 years one thing that stands out is the many disconnects between state and towns. Whether by unfunded mandates, confusing and inefficient regulation, or insuffecient funding, these end up as increases in our property taxes. I will go to Augusta and work toward a State/Municipal partnership that will save you some money. Living here and working with municipal government has given me a keen understanding and humble respect for the importance of fiscal responsibility, accountability and transparency toward one’s neighbor. So, I want to see policies and budgets coming out of Augusta that respect this very real and important part of Local Control.

So, yes, I would be proud to continue in the tradition of caring for and commitment to both community and environment as your State Representative!