Bar Harbor Town Council Candidates Answer Our Questions.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank.
BAR HARBOR—There are seven contenders for three seats on the Bar Harbor Town Council.
Vice Chair Maya Caines and Councilor David Kief are running for reelection.
They’re challenged by Bryce Lambert, Paul Saltysiak, Charles Sidman, Deborah Vickers, and Nathan Young.
On April 15, Tammy Richards announced that she would not run via an email sent to media outlets such as the Bar Harbor Story, Quietside Journal, and potentially others.
“Unfortunately, due to an unexpected family health issue, I am withdrawing from running for town council,” Richards wrote.
We’ve asked the remaining candidates for a bio, photo, and some standard questions below.
We’ll also be posting each candidate’s stand-alone bio, photo, and answers on a separate dedicated tab on our website, starting later today or tomorrow morning.
The town election and votes on various Land Use Ordinance amendments are on June 9. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town Municipal Building on Cottage Street.
The town’s budget articles are voted on during town meeting, which occurs on June 2 at the Conners Emerson gymnasium. That begins at 6 p.m.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN’S VOTERS BAR HARBOR CANDIDATES’ FORUM
Most of the candidates for Bar Harbor Town Council will meet the public in a forum at the Jesup Memorial Library, May 11 at 6 p.m.
This event is organized by the League of Women Voters — Downeast and sponsored by the Mount Desert Islander and Bar Harbor Story.
THE CANDIDATES
MAYA CAINES
Maya’s Bio
Maya’s time in Maine began over a decade ago, when she transferred to the University of Maine. There, she studied marine biology and economics, focusing on how people interact with their environment. In Bar Harbor, she worked at the Jackson Laboratory and the Town of Bar Harbor. She now works at College of the Atlantic as the Director of Residence Life and Student Experience. Maya has served on the Town Council for the past three years, mediating and communicating council, staff, committee, and resident perspectives while working towards the council’s goals.
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
Why are you running?
I am running because I believe it’s important for the Town Council to represent the whole community. Over the last three years, we have been making progress on the issues that matter to our residents, with a focus on stabilizing taxes, housing, communication, and civic participation. It’s important to continue making strides towards success on these issues.
We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?
As a town, we have talked about local options tax for a long time, but state level elected officials have halted our progress so far. With that being said, I think we should focus most of our energy on what we can control as a town.
One potential revenue lever involves implementing municipal service/user fees for customers of tourism-based businesses. Many tourist destinations do this through fee structures the municipality can control. For me, this would involve an ongoing conversation between local businesses and municipal government, couched within our current conversations around sustainable tourism.
Tax stabilization was one of the first priorities we set when I was first elected three years ago. I’m proud of the work we’ve done this year with the taxes that are within the municipal budget. Unfortunately, many costs, such as the high school budget and assessment fees, alongside deferred infrastructure maintenance, are outside of the council’s purview – and people are also feeling rising cost of living in general. This is why identifying additional revenue streams is so important.
My hope is that we continue stabilizing the budget and better inform taxpayers further in advance when large costs are anticipated.
Finally, the work happening in town is not always felt in residents’ daily lives. This creates a disconnect where the people of Bar Harbor see higher costs and don’t see what is being accomplished. I look forward to the town implementing projects like Safe Streets For All Plan and the Infrastructure Workplan. These projects will improve roads and sidewalks and have a tangible effect on people in the town.
What skills do you bring to the table?
I am an open minded person who takes in perspectives from anyone in the town, regardless of their background. I am able to balance sticking to my core beliefs and integrate these values into my work. My job requires me to mediate disagreements and conflicts between parties within the larger ecosystem of an academic institution. In town government, I have served a similar role, understanding how different parts of the whole work together. Regardless of whether I agree or disagree with you, I think you’ll find I will give most ideas a fair hearing and evaluate them based on their content, not the person or institution they are originating from. This skillset is highly important in the context of a town that can be polarizing and create an “us vs. them” mentality. I am focused on solutions, not blindly pushing through an agenda and not making sure a certain individual or side “wins.” It’s not about that for me.
What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?
I love this community. Although there appears to be a lot of ill-will and meanness in the virtual realm and in the opinion pages and comment sections of local publications, real life interactions prove the exact opposite. For most Bar Harbor residents, personal beliefs don’t matter when others are in need. For example, the internet can be the site of a lot of negativity, but it’s also a place where I see people coordinating help for each other, bartering and swapping, and assisting each other find short-term or long-term housing and employment.
In a world where it can feel like everyone is looking out for their own self interest, we live in a place where community support is evergreen.
What do you think is the most important issue facing Bar Harbor? What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?
Housing and infrastructure improvements are always top of mind for me and something the town is currently ramping up work on. I look forward to continuing that work and advocating for those in this community that are currently renting.
When I first moved here, I was lucky enough to find a year round apartment and then moved into my partner’s childhood home. It is not lost on me that this was all extremely circumstantial and entirely based on luck. Housing is a human right and should be available to those who wish to call this town home. I think we are finally moving towards solutions as a town.
We are also currently working on committee structures and support. Right now, the council feels disconnected from town boards and committees. All of these groups are full of smart people doing important work but there is a lack of collaboration, which decreases efficiency. I believe we would be able to get a lot more done and work towards solving problems if we found better ways for our town boards and committees to work with the council. That’s why I am excited to finish and begin implementing the work we have started in this area.
I would also like the town to continue to explore how we handle municipal waste. Currently, municipal waste accounts for over $1 million in the town’s budget and could be managed in a way to meet the town’s climate and affordability goals.
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
I’m proud of my ability to connect with people and build relationships between them. I’m proud of the time I’ve spent serving on the town council for this reason as well. I believe I have a strong ability to synthesize the perspectives, objectives and capabilities of the Town Council, town staff, committees, and the public.
I have done this by advocating for public comment to be allowed on agenda items throughout council meetings, which has increased communication between the public and the Town Council. I have also worked with Council Chair Val Peacock to meet with committees and better understand their work. This improves communication between the Town Council and town committees. I also routinely update residents about the municipal process and ongoing priorities, which helps increase public understanding of staff work.
What’s a question that I should be asking you that I’m not asking?
This is the same question I used last time but I still believe it is important: What perspectives would you like to see represented on the Town Council?
I want a council who represents the diversity of this town. Having a council with diverse perspectives and lived experiences is invaluable in a small community like ours. This mean having a council with people who own small businesses, work for nonprofits, work in the service industry, rent, are retired, and come from a variety of other backgrounds. Since the problems facing Bar Harbor are diverse and multifaceted, the perspectives working to solve them should be as well.
DAVID KIEF
David’s Bio
I was born and raised in Bar Harbor and graduated from MDIHS. After living in other parts of the country, I returned to the island in my early twenties, got married, built my house, and had two children.
I have held many jobs that have given me a variety of life experiences. My favorite jobs were on the water and I earned my captain’s license which resulted in working in the tourism industry on a tour boat and in the fishing industry. I also made snow at Sugarloaf when the tourism season ended on the island.
My first steady job was boat building in Manset. I quickly realized to be able to afford a home on this island, I was going to have to build my own house. I worked for a contractor for a few years to learn the trade, then went out on my own.
Growing up on the island and raising my children here, instilled a love of hiking and the outdoors. Both children moved to large cities after college graduation. My daughter has already moved back because there is no place like the island and my son is hoping to move closer in the next couple years. Many of their high school friends have also returned.
Retirement has escaped me as I have been lured back into the work force by my local customers.
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
Why are you running?
I care for the town and its residents.
We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?
Have a Local Option Tax …
Some communities have a VALUE ADDED TAX associated with lodging. I don’t know if it is possible, but the state is hesitant to do a local option tax. It would be something worth pursuing locally, if possible.
The lawsuits against the town are really lawsuits against all the residents since the legal bills are paid with tax revenue and the town is continuing to defend positions taken by the residents. Reducing the lawsuits will ease the drain on cash.
I also think we need to look closer at spending.
What skills do you bring to the table?
I have common sense and historic knowledge of the town. I also pay attention to constituents concerns and hopefully they have been happy with my voting.
What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?
I was born and raised here…. It is in my DNA.
What do you think is the most important issue facing Bar Harbor? What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?
Housing is at the top of the list. There are no transitional options. Older residents want to stay here, but there are no options to downsize. If they could downsize, that would open up housing for young families and some larger homes might work well as duplexes for young families.
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
I was able to make a living for my family here. It’s not easy and never has been. There used to be various forms of employments. I have had a small business and assisted others with projects all while keeping costs in check.
What am I not asking that I should be?
How do we get certain sectors of the business community to start putting more effort into making the town a better place for year round residents? Having the park here and a municipal infrastructure to facilitate these businesses make it easy to have a successful business.
Just in the last 20 years, the town has seen significant development, improvements, rebuilds and expansions of commercial and residential property, increasing our tax base. Businesses and the Park have had record setting seasons. None of that has translated to a lower tax bill for residents though and with all the success around, you would think it would trickle down.
BRYCE LAMBERT
Bryce’s Bio
My name is Bryce Lambert and I grew up here on the island. My primary residence growing up was in Somesville, though I spent summers living with my dad on Ledgelawn. I have spent, with exception of a few winters, my entire adult life working in Bar Harbor. I’ve worked nearly everywhere in this town: from the Criterion Theatre, selling popcorn to the Fish House Grill and Miguel’s, washing dishes, to Improv Acadia and Leary’s Landing waiting tables and many others over the last twenty-some years. I’m also quite active in the community; I host karaoke during the summer and Trivia during the winter, as well as being a part of the Criterion’s shadow cast troupe.
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
Why are you running?
I am running because there is a lack of representation for young people and renters on the council. I feel that as someone that works directly in the industry that brings people to our town and someone who is still having to rent here, I have a unique perspective to bring to the table.
We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?
This is still an area of town government that I’m learning more about, but it’s clear that the growing local tax burden is harming the year round community. Bar Harbor only has 5,000 residents, but our local budget reflects the level of service needed to sustain millions of visitors every year, not just our community’s schools and other infrastructure. That just can’t all fall on the backs of our year round residents.
We do have some alternative areas of revenue besides property taxes — from cruise ships and parking — but that aren’t able to be put into the put into the essential, year round infrastructure and services that would support the entire town population. Some people talk about the cruise ships as if they are the worst thing to happen to Bar Harbor, but I can’t say they are; what I can say is that they are only helping a small portion of our community. People in my industry love them because they help their (and my) bottom line, but the town itself doesn’t benefit from them as much as we could from a diversified local economy. We need to understand that on the whole the cruise industry doesn’t currently benefit citizens that live and/or outside of the village of Bar Harbor. We could change that.
What skills do you bring to the table?
I like to think I am an effective communicator and good listener, especially when it comes to hearing out potential constituents and possible colleagues about issues they care about.
What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?
The community itself. We can be very tight knit sometimes, but we continue to welcome in new folks.
What do you think is the most important issue facing Bar Harbor? What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?
I think that the most important issue right now is the sustainability of the year round community. It feels nearly impossible for the residents that are already here to maintain their residences, let alone young people that want to move here to get started.
Something to help with that may be financial incentives, specifically for people that have land to develop, to turn that land into multiple, year round dwellings — not just employee housing or vacation homes. Now that we have a new comprehensive plan, we need to seriously consider how rezoning can accommodate that kind of housing.
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
My answer for these two questions is the same: I’ve failed. As some may know, I was asked to bring a local staple business, Improv Acadia, back after COVID restrictions were lifted in 2022. I was naive and hopeful enough that I thought I could come back with an entirely changed model, with an overhead that was honestly insane compared to the old model, and that that would work. I spent every penny I had, and many I didn’t, just to break zero. But with that failure I realized I had tried. I had done my best, and what I was trying to do was bring something worthwhile to my community. Not a lot of people can say that. I’m proud of that.
PAUL SALTYSIAK
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
Why are you running?
The main reason I am running is because I believe that I am a voice that is often unheard in the local debates. Unlike many of the other candidates and town council members, I own or work for no businesses. I am fully-retired career Army officer. I represent no special factions and have no private agenda. I am just a regular tax-paying citizen trying to raise my family in Bar Harbor and MDI.
We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?
As to the question about revenue increasing, I have no specific ideas. Does Bar Harbor have something that will attract visitors during the off seasons? Can we get non-tourist businesses to relocate here that can offer the kind of salaries to people that would allow them to buy a home here? What I will not do is to vote in favor of any “new ideas” that come without a plan to pay for them. As for decreasing expenses, I would recommend reducing the “studies” and “consulting.” In many cases, they are unnecessary and will typically tell the same information you could get by going out on the street and asking a few people for free.
What skills do you bring to the table?
As a career Army officer, retiring in the rank of Colonel, I bring a lot of experience of operational and strategic planning and modernization. During my years working for NATO, it was like herding cats with the other countries, which might be a useful skill in this town. But more importantly, I raise my family of seven children, along with my wife, Shiella. We are just regular people feeling the burden of increased taxes and expenses. I feel that as I am not tied to any industry or any businesses here, I can look at the issues more objectively.
What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?
When I was 11 years old, my parents brought me to Bar Harbor for the first time. Twelve years ago, I brought my family here on vacation and we never had a second thought. When I retired in 2018, we moved here permanently. I have lived all over the world during my Army career — many amazing places, but Bar Harbor beats them all. Now what I love most is seeing my children grow and flourish in this community. It has so much to offer. But there are things that need to be done to ensure future generations will have the same opportunity.
What do you think is the most important issue facing Bar Harbor? What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?
I think the most important issue is that Bar Harbor has to decide what it is. Is it a tourist town? Is it a fishing village? Is it a home for families? Of course it is all of these things, but to what degree. A lot of people tell me they don’t like the direction the town is going. Is there a way where each of can do what’s best for ourselves and for the community?
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
I am extremely proud of my amazing and supportive wife, Shiella. During all the years in the Army, during all the deployments, she held everything together at home. Marrying her was the smartest and best thing I ever did. I am also extremely proud of my children and all that they have accomplished. Many you see weekly in the sports section of the MDIslander. But they are so much more.
Within the community, I am proud that I was able to establish and run the museum at Holy Redeemer. There is so much history in this town and Holy Redeemer is a big part of it. Now with the recent renovations at the church, the museum will take on a new importance to tell the story of the Catholic people who settled here. Everyone should come and visit. I will provide a personal tour.
CHARLES SIDMAN
Charles’ Bio
Charles Sidman fell in love with Bar Harbor as a teenager in the 1960s when he tent-camped with his family at Mount Desert Campground, and again with his wife (now of 56 years) Amy and their young children doing the same in the 1970s. After graduate work at Harvard and six years as an officer in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, and then five years living and doing scientific research in Switzerland, the family moved permanently to Bar Harbor in 1982 to work at The Jackson Lab. Living initially in LowSeas on Schooner Head Road, it was amazing to pick wild blueberries in the front yard, and to cross-country ski to work in the winter. Eventually, he and his family bought land in Bar Harbor and built (literally with their own and friends’ hands) the off-grid home that they still live in. During the 1980s Charlie was a member of the Warrant Committee, joined MDIBL as a permanent member, guest taught at COA, and served on various Maine state and school boards. His kids and grandkids attended and loved the Bar Harbor schools. Although his academic career then took him to the University of Cincinnati for almost 20 years, Bar Harbor remained home where the Sidmans voted and paid taxes throughout.
In the 1990s, Charlie helped his wife Amy open (and operate to this day) downtown’s Argosy Gallery, continuing Bar Harbor’s tradition of fine art emphasizing Downeast Maine and Acadia. They also owned and operated vacation rentals on MDI, and Charlie flew tourists over the town in small planes from Bar Harbor’s airport as well as taught locals and visitors to dance in various venues.
After retiring from academia in 2010, Charlie turned attention to his current passion and full-time occupation, assisting startup companies and entrepreneurs locally and throughout the world via investment, mentoring and advocacy. He catalyzed the formation of Maine Angels (the state’s first and still largest group of private early-stage investors) in 2004.
In 2019 Charlie reentered local politics with several successful Citizen Initiatives (as Town officials seemed only able to talk but not act) designed to control the ever-expanding and town-consuming cruise ship industry. Another successful Initiative in 2022 officially limited cruise passenger inundation of our downtown, to the benefit of residents and more numerous other groups of visitors. With the new limits now largely operational, business activity in Bar Harbor has never been greater, with Maine State Sales Tax revenues in 2025 setting records in all economic sectors. Another battle that Charlie is currently waging for average citizens concerns water rates, where the Town continues to charge a resident flushing his/her toilet several times what larger businesses and institutions pay. While Charlie is definitely not anti-business (witness his many commercial activities and interests), he does believe in and fight for win-win situations where everyone benefits, rather than zero-sum games where one party gains only when another loses. His commitment, persistence and accomplishments are recognized broadly (even if not always appreciated by all).
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
Why are you running?
I believe that I am uniquely qualified and positioned to make a needed difference, given a town government that many residents as well as business people regard as having failed fiscally and policy-wise (due to perpetual discord and lack of effective communication, political posturing instead of actual decision making, disregard for effective and consistent rule of law, endless well-meaning but unsustainable overspending, and ever-rising tax rates that make home ownership and continued residence increasingly difficult for many). Having experience in all sectors of our town’s life (scientific, business, schools, community, culture, government, etc.), I have spearheaded a number of policy changes over the past decade whose enabling decisions have always been those of the voters as a whole, but most recognize would not have taken place without my leadership and organization. Unless practical, active and persistent budgetary and policy redirection return to the Town Council, Bar Harbor is unlikely to reverse its clearly downward trajectory as an attractive community and environment that anyone can visit but no one but the wealthy can live in. I have demonstrated both my commitment and ability to make a difference.
We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?
Yes! Let’s first be adults and not spend more than we have (i.e., necessary immediate budget cuts to balance our expenses and means). Then, we can work together more productively as a community to generate and support more and better community resources, including making some desired services private or quasi-governmental rather than property tax supported through Town Hall.
What skills do you bring to the table?
Over 60 years personal knowledge, experience and family life in and love for Bar Harbor.
Over 50 years involvement in the (scientific and educational) institutional pillars of Bar Harbor (TJL/MDIBL/COA).
Over 40 years involvement in Bar Harbor (art gallery, aviation, dance, housing) and larger (state, national and global) business and entrepreneurship. Facile with budgets/practicalities/etc.
Longstanding and persistent Bar Harbor service (Warrant Comm, Citizen Initiatives, Legal Matters and Rule of Law). Have demonstrably walked the walk, not just talked the talk!
Overall understanding of and ability to manage policy development with practical realism, vs. our recent Town Council norms of political posturing, endless words and regular kicking the can down the road for our successors to deal with (and pay for.)
What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?
Superb natural environment.
Diversity of cultural institutions & gifts.
Predominantly honest, humble, hard-working, non-greedy and generous people.
What do you think is the most important issue facing Bar Harbor? What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?
Our local govt is broken and our trajectory clearly downward (even if we resist acknowledging this.)
Expenditures (property taxes!) are rising far faster than inflation, outpacing the resources of regular citizens and especially those on fixed incomes, due to overstaffing, overspending, words and can-kicking instead of practical and effective decision making and action.
Abandoning the buck-stops-here authority and responsibility of Town Council to paid but not politically-responsive staff and consultants.
Amateurism and political theatre vs. practical experience, professionalism and outcomes.
Better informal communication and community discussion apart from and in addition to official government sessions.
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
I was raised and educated to try to give back and make a difference, which I feel I have done for family, home (Bar Harbor), country, and world.
Regarding Bar Harbor, I have put in as many hours, and made as much of an impact, as any individual recently, vis-a vis our institutions, Warrant Committee, town rule of law, and zero-sum games such as cruise ships, water rates, etc. Progress is never solely due to any one individual, but also clearly would not have happened without my initiatives and efforts.
What’s a question that I should be asking you that I’m not asking?
Why you as opposed to other candidates? All are fine and caring people, but none has my record and breadth of experience, demonstrated efforts, persistence and practical results. Mere words no longer suffice, so perhaps voters will choose to go with clear commitment to and record of results. And given this record, I might have greater credibility to reach out collaboratively to work together with and across other community constituencies, for a new atmosphere and era of win-win for all in Bar Harbor.
DEBORAH VICKERS
DEBORAH’S BIO
I was born and raised in Caribou and joke that I moved to Bar Harbor for the summer climate. Seriously though, I moved to Bar Harbor in 2005 for a year round manager’s position at Sherman’s Bookstore (oldest bookstore in Maine!) to fulfill my college degree of English, then managed West End Drug until my partner and I made the Black Friar Inn and Pub our life.
Living in Bar Harbor year round certainly has bonded me to our community and this is where I have made my home and met my closest friends. Having the chance to work at two of Bar Harbor’s oldest businesses made me feel even more rooted in the community.
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
Why are you running?
I am running because I am committed to Bar Harbor and want to see it successfully move through these trying times of “us” against “them” and transition back into a community that may not always agree but is committed to understanding and support.
What skills do you bring to the table?
Years of customer service so I am accustomed to finding common ground among people of different views and thoughts.
What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?
I love the people, we all live where people love to vacation; how can you not love Bar Harbor? The community, the landscape, the environment, the National Park all of this is what makes us who we are.
What do you think is the most important issue facing Bar Harbor? What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?
The division ... ”us”against “them.” We all absolutely need to start listening and understanding different points of view and be accepting or things will be a lot worse. There is so much common ground here, being open to listening is a great start.
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
When I made the decision to join my partner Steve in buying the Black Friar Inn and Pub, to be my own owner/boss versus working for someone else. It’s one of the scariest but rewarding moves I have ever made.
I try on many levels to support the local community, especially during COVID. Myself and my business tried to stay local with sourcing versus going to online sources. Myself and my business support local non- profits, Food Pantry, Serendipity, YWCA, and the Jesup Library.
NATHAN YOUNG
Nathan’s Bio
I was born in Bar Harbor, grew up in Seal Harbor, and graduated from MDI High School. After serving in the Air Force for four years, I returned home and spent 29 years in public service, including 22 years as Bar Harbor’s Police Chief. Through that experience, I learned to see situations from many angles, and I developed a strong understanding of how our town government operates and how its decisions affect both residents and businesses. With the experience of recent years, owning Emery’s Cottages, I can now bring the perspective of a small business owner as well.
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
Why are you running? (We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?)
I am running for Town Council (again) because I still believe Bar Harbor can and must return to fiscal responsibility. Continued increases in spending—including new personnel, expanded vehicle fleets, and funding to outside organizations—have placed a growing burden on taxpayers already dealing with inflation pressures. I will work to ensure that all town spending is necessary, efficient, equitable, and accountable.
I also think the Town should work collaboratively with other municipalities in similar situations to advocate for a more equitable revenue-sharing formula with the State. Many communities, including ours, contribute significantly to state coffers yet receive disproportionately little in return. At the county level, our island pays approximately 39% of the county tax levy while receiving far fewer services than mainland towns that pay much less and utilize county services more heavily. Most important, however, we need to control our own spending. True long-term financial health requires a serious effort to reduce Town government expenses through greater efficiency and prioritizing essential services.
What skills do you bring to the table?
From my work as police chief, I learned to listen and gained years of insight into the many moving parts of the town budget—how all its departments have to work together as they do their separate jobs. Though some of the staff have changed, the basic economics of town governance and budgeting remain the same. We owe it to taxpayers to be careful about approving dream spending when most residents live in a harder financial reality. It’s their money after all and their town. I believe I can bring a seasoned realism to the council.
What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?
Bar Harbor is home. It’s not just a destination—for many, it’s our home. If we want to protect it, we need careful planning, responsible budgeting, and balanced decision-making.
What do you think is the most important issue facing Bar Harbor? What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on but isn’t?
We need to restore balance between our business and residential communities. While growth has brought opportunity, it’s sometimes left year-round residents feeling overlooked. All future decisions should be made with this in mind to better reflect the needs of both.
Housing remains a priority, but solutions must be realistic and sustainable given our limited space and high property values. I am committed to protecting the housing we already have, while being open to smart partnerships with developers and neighboring towns to create more housing options. I believe the town should actively explore putting resources into effective programs that address these challenges.
Finally, I’m glad to see attention turned to the water quality in the Northeast Creek watershed—protecting the environment must remain central to future decisions.
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of? What’s a question that I should be asking you that I’m not asking?
This year marks my seventh consecutive year without a drink. Coming to terms with my problem, I’ve experienced personal growth like no other time in my life—every day feels like a reward. I’ve learned from past mistakes and how to be in the present and take life on its own terms. I’m ready to give back to the community again.
LINK TO LEARN MORE
Correction: The original time and graphic for the League of Women Voters forum was incorrect. We’ve changed this at 7:24 p.m., April 29.
HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY
When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other.
We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going.
If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship.
It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light.
Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now.
Thank you so much for being here.
Founding member information can be found here.
Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.
These interviews are the way political interviews should be. All of us who reside in Bar Harbor are or should be aware that we live in a very special place. Obviously there is the natural environment, and there are the people, our neighbors, whether their family has been here for generations or they just moved in last week. Generally, the only fault some Mainers have is drawing lines between us and those "from away" or between those who spend their winters here and those who spring up like flowers and sometimes weeds during the summer. Your biographical approach shows us candidates with all those backgrounds. Knowing those backgrounds gives one a better perspective on how they will make decisions on issues that will come before the council in the coming years. Bar Harbor and MDI have long faced issues that we all know about, bur there will be issues coming up that we do not know about yet and it really helps to know what kind of people will be dealing with them.