School Committee Chair Hopeful After Construction Bond's Approval
New Councilors Call for Working Together
BAR HARBOR—About 30.7% of Bar Harbor residents voted yesterday with 1,555 casting ballots determining that the town would take out up to $58 million in bonds to construct new buildings to replace Conners Emerson with a resounding 1005 to 502 approval.
School Committee Chair Alexandra “Lilea” Simis said Wednesday, “I want to thank Bar Harbor voters for supporting the school bond. I am excited for our community, for our school administrators , faculty and staff but most of all for the children. The future is bright.”
The bond would rebuild the ailing school buildings that have suffered boiler failures, walls pulling away from the foundation, and multiple water leaks just this year, failures which has been compounded by a lack of physical space to serve student and staff needs.
“I am committed to the fundraising efforts and will lead the fundraising committee to do all we can to offset the cost to the taxpayers,” Simis said.
Throughout the process, Simis has said that the school committee has been soliciting potential donors to help decrease the tax load for property owners.
The town also approved four land use ordinance amendments that should help make it a bit easier for housing to be built in certain circumstances.
And the voters elected new officials, returning current Town Council Chair Valerie Peacock to the council and voting in Earl Brechlin, Maya Caines, and Kyle Shank. All the Warrant Committee’s incumbents who ran returned, Kevin DesVeaux Carol Chappell, Allison Sasner, and Christine Smith. Bethany McFarland Reece did not run for reelection. Shaun Farrar was elected to that final open seat. Misha Mytar and Michael Kier ran unopposed for the Superintending School Committee.
Candidates Express Support
Many of the candidates appreciated their supporters and good luck to those elected.
Outgoing Councilor Erin Cough said, “Thank you for all your support during the election. I’d like to wish the new councilors the best on the long, bumpy road ahead.”
Bo Jennings committed to further work to try to help expand the town’s revenues.
Jennings said, “I was humbled that I could get 30+ to sign my papers to get on the ballot for Town Council, and humbled even more by those that voted for me this election. While I was not elected, I will still look to serve this town, primarily to ensure Bar Harbor gets a more equitable distribution of tax revenue sharing from the state. All of Bar Harbor should join me in that crusade, as its what our town deserves. I want to thank all of the candidates who ran.
“And to all the Town Councilors, whether I voted for you or not, you are now my representatives. I am cheering you on. I know the good work you can do for all residents, and will be there to support you in any way possible.”
Young also wished the new councilors well.
“Congratulations to Maya, Kyle, Val and Earl! Best of luck as you go forward representing this great community. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude for those who supported my candidacy. A heartfelt thank you!” Young said.
New Councilors Thankful And Looking Toward Collaboration
Those who were elected expressed their appreciation, too.
“A big thank you to everyone who voted yesterday and to all the candidates who volunteered to run and take an active role in shaping the future of this community. I'm looking forward to working with everyone on the council as we address the serious challenges and obstacles ahead,” Brechlin said.
Brechlin was elected to a two-year seat, finishing the term of Jeff Dobbs who resigned earlier this year because of health reasons.
Caines said, “It’s such an honor to be elected to serve this community. Thank you to everyone who put their trust in me to serve Bar Harbor. I look forward to continuing to have important conversations and being a voice that represents a part of this community who is seldom involved in the decision making process.”
Caines also spoke of her appreciation for their collaborations prior to the election and their willingness to serve.
“To all of the candidates, thank you for brainstorming together, sharing your ideas and showing your love for this town,” she said.
Prior to the yesterday’s vote, Shank said, “Every single person who has run for Town Council this year truly believes that Bar Harbor is a community worth serving. All of them deserve credit for stepping forward to do so, especially during times like these where passions are running hot and our problems are daunting, if not insurmountable. But what comes next has nothing to do with individuals and everything to do with groups: the Town Council, the Warrant Committee, our neighborhoods, our town, and our island. We must work together, if not necessarily as friends then at least as neighbors, to bridge our differences, find common ground, and bring solutions forward so that we can have a community that serves all of Bar Harbor, both today and in the future. No matter how the vote shakes out, I am deeply confident that the individuals who ran can deliver this and offer them, as both neighbors and friends, my full support.“
Tonight there will be an organizational meeting for the new council at 5:30 p.m. at Town Council Chambers in the Bar Harbor Municipal Building. The chair and vice chair of the Council will be elected by the councilors and several council appointments to committees will be filled by council representatives.
*Shaun Farrar is my husband and is now on the Warrant Committee. He is mentioned in this article. He often writes for The Bar Harbor Story.