Brooke “Zana” Blomquist
Two-year term
Brooke “Zana” Blomquist
The Bio:
Hi y’all! My name is Brooke Blomquist, and I’m excited to announce that this spring, I’m running for election to Town Council in Bar Harbor.
Many of you know me as Zana, and I’ve called Downeast Maine home for the past seven years. I’m a sailor, chef, and year-round bartender working in Bar Harbor as part of the hospitality industry that underpins our local economy. I’ve witnessed firsthand the changes and challenges our community is facing — from the shortage of affordable housing, to the rising costs of living and doing business in Bar Harbor, to the need to balance year-round economic opportunities with supporting seasonal visitation to this beautiful town.
Friends and regulars know me as someone who takes an honest, no-nonsense approach to people and problem-solving — and it’s with their encouragement that I’ve decided to take a hands-on approach to serving my community and run for elected office. As your Town Council member, my goal is to serve as a strong and trusted voice for all people across the community as we navigate the challenges before us. Throughout my campaign and time in office, I look forward to listening and learning from Bar Harbor residents, employees, business owners, students, and visitors about the community we want to shape together. Let’s make it happen!
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091812140596
Instagram: BBforBarHarbor
For Brooke’s “Zana’s” links to candidate information, click here.
THE QUESTIONS
Why do you think so many people are running this year?
Over the past few years, a more diverse set of people from across the community (myself included!) have become more involved and aware of local issues, and the ballot reflects that. With four potential open seats on the council, I think more people are feeling like it’s actually possible for them to make positive change and are feeling the call to public service.
Why are you running? How does your “why” for running delve into your bigger life purpose?
I’m running in large part because of the encouragement of multiple members of the community who trust me to represent them in dealing with the issues that impact them most like affordable housing, accessible transportation, protecting the environment, and managing our harbor in a way that benefits all of Bar Harbor. My friends and loved ones – as well as my patrons – often come to me when they want to talk to someone who will stay grounded while working through complex or difficult problems, while also being kind and direct. Based on the polarizing issues we’re facing as a community, I want to be the kind of council member who will make people feel safe and heard while staying cool under pressure and not avoiding making difficult decisions. I also believe that if you have the ability to serve your community, you have the responsibility to do so, and I’m looking to give back to the place I want to be over the long term.
How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who are?
It’s important to recognize that this lack of trust is based on some very real barriers for people in the community to participate directly in local decision-making. If we want to build trust between council, committees, and the general public, we need more of the public actually in the room and participating in hard conversations. I’d like to see the town put more resources into communications and public outreach about how to get involved in conversations about important topics, and to go beyond the bare minimum of one-sided public comments during meetings or emailing the council by providing more accessible opportunities for the public to be involved. Allowing for public comment on items on the council’s agenda and ensuring town council meetings are shorter than four hours would be a good start on that front.
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 need to be focused on instead?
Rather than focusing on individual issues, I’d like us as a town to look at the many problems we’re facing as holistic and interconnected. For example: if we want to address affordable housing, we need to acknowledge the lack of year-round, accessible transportation options for our workforce. If we need to invest more resources into transportation infrastructure, we need to explore alternative revenue streams and partnerships that won’t disproportionately impact property owners who feel pressured to turn year-round rentals into short-term, seasonal rentals. We also need to recognize that Bar Harbor isn’t alone in the issues that we’re facing – we’re not unique, but we are special. We have the opportunity to learn from other communities and work with partners, including other towns on MDI and state legislators, when developing solutions that work for us here.
Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners, ideas that don’t involve property taxes?
In my conversations with community members, I’ve learned that Bar Harbor really hasn’t explored a number of alternative revenue streams that are available to us that other municipalities Maine have utilized for years – such as better managing our municipal solid waste and re-examining our fees for permitting. There are also currently being considered in the state legislature that could potentially allow us to develop an equitable local options tax that would help keep more of the economic benefit of our tourism industry local. There’s also an incredible amount of federal and state funding available right now for infrastructure and environmental projects, and I’d like to see the Town take advantage of as many of those opportunities as possible.
There’s a school bond on the ballot and a school that’s in dire need of repair. How have you educated yourself on the potential reconstruction of the school and what are your thoughts on how the council and school board can work together to lessen the tax implication for the residents?
From what I know about the Connors Emerson school project, we have an unsafe building that needs to be entirely replaced, but we’re also facing a declining population of kids and year-round families able to live in Bar Harbor. There’s no question the school needs to be replaced, but it’s ultimately up to the voters of Bar Harbor to determine if the proposed bond measure is a burden they’re willing to take on. However, the council and school board also need to work together to address the reality that even if the bond passes, it’ll be another five years before a new school is finished, and to discuss more openly the potential implications of future consolidation. I think the town should be involved in helping secure grants and other potential funding for both the short- and long-term work at the school as well.
As a follow-up to that, how do you prioritize education for Bar Harbor students and in what way do you see that the school does or doesn’t fit into a future, healthy community?
Bar Harbor students of all ages – from preschool through higher education – are a critical part of what makes this community incredible. Right now, we need a clear plan for our elementary and middle school students to not only be able to receive a good education in a safe environment. But if we want to build a healthy year-round community, we also need to ensure that young people in Bar Harbor are actually able to choose to put down roots and stay in this community if they wish to do so.
What skills do you bring to the table that you think other candidates might not bring?
I’ve built my career on strong people skills and conflict management. I believe I’d bring an open mind, willingness to listen to all sides, and a decisive attitude to the council.
What’s a question that I should be asking you that I’m not asking?
You missed a very important question to ask candidates: who do they think has the best oysters in town? (Easy answer: it’s the Barnacle). But in all seriousness, I think we should all be asking ourselves – what do you think has been keeping people in the Bar Harbor community from being involved in local politics before now, and what can we do about it even after the election is over?
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 that I learned at a young age that even if someone calls you a chair, it doesn't mean you are a chair – which is to say, it's important to not take the things that other people say about you personally when you know your truth. I’m proud that I’m able to live for myself, in large part because that gives me the confidence to work with others in a genuinely collaborative way. Among the community, I’m most proud of cultivating my workplace as a safe space for locals and visitors to responsibly relax, celebrate, connect, and collaborate regardless of their background, and for being known as someone who others can go to for support when they need it.
To learn more about Brooke’s candidacy, click here.