Nathan Young
Three-year council candidate
Nathan Young
THE BIO:
My name is Nathan Young. I was born in Bar Harbor, and I am currently the owner of Emery’s Cottages on the Shore (est. 1934), located on the Sand Point Road. I became the steward of this magnificent gem in 2018 and I have the benefit of continuing the tradition of a family-run business.
I served the town of Bar Harbor as your police chief for 22 years out of a nearly 30-year career with the town. I have a deep understanding of the intricacies of municipal government and the leadership skills necessary to serve our community in a proper capacity going forward.
I look forward to the providing you with the information necessary to make a proper decision as we go forward with this pivotal election. This community deserves a no-nonsense principals vs personalities-based government.
THE QUESTIONS:
Why do you think people are running this year?
I cannot speak for others. I am running because this council has demonstrated the inability to listen to the inhabitants. That’s who we work for as council members and regardless of how we feel, we need to honor the will of the voter.
Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?
I am running because I believe my years of experience working for this community provide me with the historical background necessary to make decisions going forward. As a department head, I had a front row seat to most issues that face this town, specifically, the budget process, for over 22 years. There has been a 71% increase in expenditures over the past 10 budget cycles and that concerns me.
As a department head, part of my job was to create logical, accurate and understandable presentations and communicate those ideals to the many committees that serve our community, including the Town Council, giving me the understanding and perspective of how vital our boards and committees are.
I will represent the interest of the inhabitants of the town of Bar Harbor and will serve no particular interest that does not represent the greater community or the will of the voters.
I believe my leadership skills and extensive government experience provide me with the tools necessary to strike a balance this town so desperately needs.
How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who serve??
To their credit, this and past councils have strived to find ways to provide more open and free-flowing communication with the general public. The breakdown happens when the public doesn’t feel like they’re being listened to and that’s when you often hear people say “they’re going to do whatever they want to do anyways.”
My main goal is to regain a balance, recognizing the uniqueness of our community.
The size of your tax bill does not define your place in line when it comes to talking with me about any town issue.
The last year or so, the news has been full of cruise ships, short-term rentals, and affordable housing. This isn’t saying those aren’t tremendously important, but what are some of the things that we might not be focusing on as a town that needs be focused on?
The budget. Expenses has increased 71% over the past 10 budget cycles, including the current budget proposal. It’s unsustainable to continue at this pace. We need to get away from the big city mentality and get back to what we are, a small town that has to sustain millions of tourists a year to survive, but which also has residents who deeply love their community.
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?
We need to cut back on our expenditures. We need to evaluate each cost center within our budget and recognize the expenditures associated with that cost center over the past 10 budget cycles and the reasons why. This includes the number of employees and the workload associated with each cost center. It’s my belief that a true picture of the aforementioned will provide enough information on whether to support future funding at the pace we have.
The council needs to take the lead and start focusing energy and efforts on finding new sources of revenue streams rather than relying on the taxpayers to carry the burden of covering the costs. We need to get creative and think outside the box to find solutions to alleviate the pressure on the taxpayers.
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?
The school is just one of the infrastructural needs facing our community. This town needs to establish a prioritization schedule when it comes to infrastructure replacements and the associated cost.
Undoubtably, the school needs to be replaced or completely renovated, however absent a big picture plan, I do not support such a move at this time, especially considering today’s borrowing rates.
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?
I believe that this community has always strived to provide better educational opportunities to our youth. I believe that more emphasis needs to be put on vocational education. Have you needed a plumber or electrician lately?
What skills do you bring to the table that you think other candidates might not?
Nearly three decades of service to our town, 22 years as police chief. During my tenure, I gained a plethora of knowledge of the inner workings of town government. I attended countless staff meetings where I gained first-hand knowledge of the inner workings of the town, including serving on boards and committees such as the Parking and Traffic Committee, the Cruise Ship Committee, and the Deer Herd Control Task Force.
As the police chief, I had numerous other responsibilities such as signing-off on development projects that had been submitted to the Planning Board for approval.
I made countless budget presentations and participated in all aspects of the budget process which included numerous Town Council meetings, presentations and participation in the Warrant Committee process, and attended the town meetings during the voting process where the town’s citizenry decides to accept or reject the budget.
I am also the proud owner of a lodging business that was established in 1934 (Emery’s Cottages on the Shore). Running a small business gives me an even deeper perspective of the balance that’s needed in our community.
What’s a question that I should be asking you that I’m not asking?
It goes without saying that I need to address the elephant in the room. My firing from the town in 2014.
I was fired by the town in early 2014 after a hearing relating to an alleged drunk driving incident. I challenged the validity of the town's decision through the court system, and I lost that case. I accept that. Anything other than acceptance at this point provides me with an opening for resentments to creep in. It makes absolutely no sense to enter into a bunch of "what if” scenarios. Those “what ifs” only present as excuses, and I have none. It goes without saying that a significant emotional event, such as being fired, does not ever go away, however, processing and acceptance put it in the right place.
Two years into my case, things took a dramatic turn. I lost it. I went down a path of destruction like no other. The pitiful, incomprehensible, and demoralizing behavior I engaged in during that period of time, including an operating under the influence charge and conviction, are owned by me 100%. There is no excuse for this behavior. I apologize.
April 21, 2023 marked my fourth continuous year without a drink. The gift of desperation, along with the wonderful and extremely patient MDI Hospital staff, allowed me to tackle my disease head on. I am aware that my disease is in my front yard doing push-ups and waiting for my return. I continue to work on clearing the wreckage from the past, and the progress I’ve experienced has been very rewarding.
The voters have to have faith and trust in their representation, and I completely respect that. I present myself as a candidate with flaws. What have you done for yourself that you’re most proud of? What you have done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
I decided to live. I’ve been sober for a little over four years now and I continue to work on me. Clearing the wreckage from the past has been quite rewarding, and I will continue to strive to make progress. With all that said, I would like to assure the general public that I am fully prepared and qualified to properly represent them going forward.
I take great pride in the nearly three decades of service I gave to our community. I was your longest serving police chief, having served for 22 years and I’d like to think that I did a lot of positive things for the community during that time.