John Kelly
THREE-YEAR TERM, BAR HARBOR WARRANT COMMITTEE
JOHN’S BIO
I am originally from New York, but Bar Harbor has been my home for 25 years. After high school, I attended Colorado State University where I earned a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation. I later earned a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech. My education and love for the outdoors led to a long career in the National Park Service.
After working as a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park and Fire Island National Seashore, I served as a planner in Washington and Boston before coming to Acadia National Park. As the park’s management assistant, I serve on the senior leadership team, foster community relations, coordinate planning projects, formulate management policies, and administer the cooperative agreement to operate the Island Explorer bus system.
Outside of work, I have valued my time volunteering on the Town of Bar Harbor Comprehensive Plan Committee, Warrant Committee, Economic Development Task Force, and Parks & Recreation Committee. I am also a former member of the Board of Directors for the Island Housing Trust and Healthy Acadia.
Most importantly, I am happy to be married to Heather Kelly who is a dedicated education technician at Conners Emerson School and loves nurturing the children in our community. Together, we’ve raised three young men who attended Conners Emerson School and graduated from MDI High School over the past few years. We’re now enjoying the quiet time at home, walking in the park, biking on the carriage roads, and traveling whenever we can get away.
THE QUESTIONS
What inspired you to run for warrant committee?
I have a long-time interest in serving the community, including as a past member of the Warrant Committee. After serving 12 years, I felt it was time to take a break and open a seat for others. After serving on the Comprehensive Plan Committee over the past two years, I’m inspired to return to the Warrant Committee with that new experience to help the town implement its short and long-term goals as outlined in the plan.
What are your thoughts on tax-payer-based spending in Bar Harbor?
Property taxes remain the primary means of funding town operations and public services. The role of the Warrant Committee, as I see it, is to be the watchdog for tax payers to ensure every dollar is allocated wisely according to the town’s goals. Revenue sources are a key means of alleviating the tax burden and should be maximized to the extent possible.
What are your thoughts about redirecting parking fee revenues to non-parking-related budget items?
The town should take full advantage of the Maine Revised Statute that allows revenue collected from parking meters to be used “to provide for property tax relief” and “to acquire, construct, maintain and operate capital infrastructure projects” while retaining enough revenue to maintain the meters and public parking areas.
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?
My years of experience on town committees and task forces has given me a thorough understanding and appreciation of the town’s operations and budget process. My professional skills relate closely to those needed to carry out the purposes of the Warrant Committee. These include applying land use regulations, developing and analyzing budgets, interpreting policies, and managing projects.
Why should voters trust you to represent their interests effectively?
Having served on a variety of town committees and task forces, I believe I have a track record of being level-headed and open-minded. If elected, representing all the voters to me means trying to find a middle ground. I would come to the Warrant Committee without an agenda other than to serve the residents of Bar Harbor honestly and fairly.