BAILEY STILLMAN
Bar Harbor Warrant Committee Candidates
BAILEY STILLMAN
BAILEY’S BIO
My family moved to Mount Desert Island from Tunk Lake in Sullivan when I was four years old. I attended Conners Emerson and MDIHS before going to Eastern Maine Community College where I received an associates degree in business. After EMCC, I was able to obtain a 100-ton captain’s license, propelled by summers of working in boatyards and captaining for summer folks. I traveled a bit during the winters of my early twenties. I spent time backpacking in Central America and Asia, sailed to Bermuda and Miami, and have explored 22 States including Alaska and Hawaii. My wife and I have been living and working on MDI since graduating college and plan to build a life and start a family here. There are many challenges and barriers of entry for a lot of young people, however, we can’t imagine living anywhere else.
THE QUESTIONS
Why are you running for Warrant Committee? How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?
Like a lot of people, I admit that I don’t yet fully understand the intricacies of politics or how local government operates. I have decided that to put it in perspective for myself, I need to zoom in on my own community and find the places where I can add value to the public, my neighbors, and my friends. When you look at your own community, your own people’s problems, the data and evidence is much more relatable. It’s important to me to be a thoughtful, solution-oriented representative for my community, and look ahead to how we want to shape our town. I am especially dedicated because I grew up in Bar Harbor and want to stay on Mount Desert Island.
The last year or so the news has been full of cruise ships, short-term rentals, and affordable housing. This isn’t saying that those aren’t all tremendously important, but what are some of the things that we might not be focusing on as a town that needs to be focused on instead?
The congestion in Bar Harbor and the park during the summer leaves little incentive for locals to get out and enjoy these perks for themselves. I believe that we have a strong year-round community, and I am hopeful to experience more options and opportunities during the off-season. Places like Volta and the early opening of Mothers Kitchen provide more places for year-rounders to be active and get a bite to eat. I think it is important to expand these options and support the off-season businesses and activities available.
What are your thoughts on how the Town Council, the Warrant Committee, the town, and Conners Emerson School Board can work together to lessen the tax implication for the residents?
This is where I have the most to learn. During my first few meetings, I felt slightly intimidated because I don’t have the experience with these types of issues, but was fascinated to hear people vocalize their concerns and potential solutions. I was very impressed with how the Warrant Committee took different approaches to put a small dent in the hike in taxes. At the time, I felt it was most important for me to listen to my peers and use my best judgment to make a vote. I look forward to learning more in my role on the Warrant Committee, gaining clearer understanding on these issues, and how I may be able to come forth with my own ideas to present to the committee.
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of?
It’s been a long-term goal of mine to be self-employed and start my own business. In the end of 2023 I was able to find shop space available to rent in Bass Harbor at Little Island Marine, and started Stillman LLC, providing boat service and repairs. During the last four months, I have been working on my own projects, and subcontracting for other local boat shops. I have been fortunate to work with talented people that I view as mentors, learning more every day in hopes that I can apply those skills to my own business in the future.
What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
I am trying to become more involved in the community, and I see being on the Warrant Committee as a step in that direction. One thing I try to remember is that how you conduct yourself and interact with people can make a positive difference. I come from a family that has a history of connecting with people and seeks to find common interests. People are what make up a community, and the stronger our bonds and passing interactions, the better we are and become more considerate of one another's needs.
One of my goals in my business is to create an initiative with local young people, possibly the high school, to get them involved in the marine industry. Not just for the sake of hiring employees, but to provide an environment where the next generation can learn more about the trade and gain more skills, self-discipline and a good work ethic. I think that this could be beneficial not only to local markets, but in developing workplace qualities that can transcend into other careers and life in general. I have been fortunate to work in environments where I was given responsibilities with knowledgeable direction, and this gave me confidence to branch out and take on new opportunities.
The Warrant Committee considers, investigates, and reports on all of the election warrant articles except for the candidates for Town Meeting. What particular skills do you have that you think will help you perform that role?
I enjoy taking part in thoughtful deliberations and collaborating with others to find common ground and solutions. I believe that I am a good listener and communicator and am able to change my opinions or perspective if provided with enough supporting data. I care most about what is best for the greater good, and know that my role on the Warrant Committee would be to carefully consider the goals of the town and the public.