Friedmann Resigns from Bar Harbor Town Council to Focus on State Legislative Work
BAR HARBOR—After more than a decade on the Bar Harbor Town Council, current Vice Chair Gary Friedmann has announced his resignation to focus on his new position in the state legislature.
A press release from the Maine Legislature’s House Democratic Office announced the news about Friedmann’s resignation, January 15.
Friedmann’s departure comes on the heels of Councilor Kyle Shank’s resignation. Shank announced during the January 7 council meeting that he is stepping down from his position on the council, February 4. He and his family are moving to Pennsylvania for work and family reasons.
Friedmann’s council term ends in 2027. Shank’s term ends in 2026.
Friedmann said Wednesday morning that he expects to read a statement at the next Bar Harbor Town Council meeting, January 21. The council will appoint replacements for both Friedmann and Shank that will serve until the June election. Then, voters will choose who will serve the remainder of both men’s terms. Incumbents Earl Brechlin and Matthew Hochman also finish their terms this year. It’s unknown if the men will run again.
Friedmann said Wednesday morning that it’s taken some soul searching to come to the decision to leave the council.
“This was not an easy decision to make, but I know that I need to devote my full time and energy to the Legislature,” said Friedmann. “I’m proud of all the work that my colleagues on town council and I were able to accomplish, and I have full confidence that the remaining members will carry on that important work.”
Friedman was elected in November to his first term in the legislature. He is a member of the Taxation Committee and represents Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Lamoine, and Mount Desert.
“While serving simultaneously on the town council and in the Legislature is permitted under state law, Friedmann is choosing to focus solely on his state legislative work,” the press release reads.
Friedmann said Wednesday that he ran in June to accomplish a few things and he feels as if the town is on track. One of those things is the emergency moratorium on transient accommodations.
“I think that moratorium is really important to keep the town focused on a few key issues,” he said, speaking from the room where the taxation committee works.
He was a voice in Bar Harbor, he said. Now he’s going to focus on the district he serves. “Now I’m going to be a voice in Augusta. I really want to give it my all. There’s so much to be done here.”
Friedmann has run a local consulting business that helps nonprofits succeed and develop strategic plans, build capacity, and raise over $100 million to strengthen communities, he wrote in a bio when he last ran for office. His wife Glenon is a founder of Bar Harbor Farm.
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Oh my who could've predicted that Friedmann would not be able to do both jobs?
Anyone who knew anything about the work involved - in both positions. And anything about Friedmann.
Running for both offices was a dunderheaded and greedy move. For which Friedmann was publicly criticized at the time.
Of course, Friedmann leaves Bar Harbor in the lurch - at a predictably hard time with a dysfunctional town council of which he is an architect.
I think this is a good thing for the town voters, we need new voices. He has served as a town councilor too long, new blood is needed, especially in Bar Harbor.