Where They Stand: Southwest Harbor Select Board Candidates Answer Big Questions
Decisions Ahead for Southwest Harbor Voters
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Four candidates for two Southwest Harbor Select Board seats spoke to a packed room at the town’s public safety building on Thursday night.
Both seats are for three-year terms. The residents of Southwest Harbor will vote for these elected officials at their annual municipal election on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Southwest Harbor Fire Department, 250 Main Street, Southwest Harbor.
One member of the audience thanked the foursome—Tom Benson, Natasha Johnson, Dan Norwood, and James Vallette—for exposing themselves to the scrutiny of listeners. It would be a hard choice, they said, choosing who to vote for. The crowd applauded the comment. Johnson and Vallette are incumbents.
“Together we can figure out everything,” Vallette said to the talkative and respectful crown.
All four candidates have served on the select board already and the seats are up because Johnson and Vallette’s three-year terms end this year. And the discussion during the session often felt a bit more like a work session with an easy back-and-forth between the candidates and the audience. Joe Marshall moderated with a light hand, which was all that was needed.
More than sixty people attended in person, others attended via Zoom. Southwest Harbor’s population was 1,756 at the 2020 census.
Topics of discussion focused on the town’s budget and how to increase revenue without hurting taxpayers, its infrastructure needs, affordable housing, how to encourage more housing, and the potential consolidation of services with other towns.
Speaking first, Tom Benson said, “I would like to see what I can do about taxes, construction projects, just try to move toward the future.”
Affordable housing is a complicated question, he said, but needs to be addressed and he hopes to bring his experience from his professional surveying business to that as well as other issues. He also said that when he was on the board for six years, there was a flat budget while also absorbing the increase for the school board.
Natasha Johnson said, ”I believe in our community and I want what is best for everyone who lives here.”
That involves forward thinking without losing the culture and small town feel. She said it’s important that board members don’t have their own agendas, but constantly remember that they are making decisions for all of the town. That can be complicated and hard. In the last three years, she said, they’ve assessed, investigated, and succeeded in opportunities that the town never had prior to her and Vallette’s tenure.
“I like to rise to those challenges and not duck or run away and hide,” she said.
Dan Norwood said he’s been in Southwest Harbor for about 64 years and in that time “we had a good working board and got a lot accomplished for the town.”
The town is facing new challenges statewide, he said, and that will impact how the town moves forward.
“The town needs to get back to listening to people instead of stating agendas and acrimony all the time,” he said. “I look forward to helping out.”
Jim Vallette spoke of his time living in Southwest Harbor since 1996, primarily on the Seawall Road. “I’ve been here quite a while and observing town politics for a while and that’s why I ran.”
He said that many projects were stuck and there was a lot of turnover in boards and in the town office and added, “We have stabilized that situation since Natasha and I joined the board.”
He included getting the harbormaster’s shack in working order in Manset with the help of Anne Napier and the harbor committee, hiring a town manager without the assistance of an outside law firm, the almost finished Main Street project and a $2.4 million federal grant for the town’s garage, dredging of Goog’s Pond, and a fully staffed police department and top notch town staff as accomplishments.
BIGGEST CHALLENGES
The first question from the audience was about what the candidates perceived as the town’s biggest challenges.
Benson said it was taxes, especially in the areas that were hit by assessments. “Our taxes have gone up in the neighborhood of the 40% bracket. People on fixed incomes are just that—fixed incomes.”
Benson said he’s had year round young families tell him that if those taxes keep going up they won’t be able to afford to live here.
Johnson said that the town needs to be able to pivot and think creatively as problems arise. If things in the past aren’t working in the current situation, the town needs to pivot to deal with those problems like affordable housing and taxes, she said.
Norwood focused on infrastructure, especially on roads like the Shore Road and the town dock.
“It’s inappropriate for two cars to be passing on that street,” he said.
It’s important to find solutions when state and federal funds aren’t available, he said.
Vallette focused on a need for affordable housing, saying he’s glad that there’s a housing committee that looks toward solutions for that. He mentioned the Island Housing Trust’s covenant program. He also focused on the town’s solid waste stream, saying Southwest Harbor spends more than $500,000 annually.
“There is waste built into the system that we have identified,” he said and added that it would be great to have more time to work toward equitable solutions.
ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS AND LOCAL OPTIONS SALES TAX
There was some discussion about Rep. Gary Friedmann’s (D-Bar Harbor) bill to create a 2% local option sales tax on lodgings that towns and city voters could choose to have in their towns. A portion of that tax would go to the state for affordable housing, but the rest would return to the town to use it as it wishes.
Benson worried that this was another way to tax businesses and referenced driving down Main Street in the winter.
“It looks like Seal Harbor,” he said. “I think we just need to cut down on our expenditures and just try to lower taxes that way.”
Johnson said she thinks a local options lodging tax could be a workable solution as could parking in specific tourist-heavy areas in town.
“It doesn’t quite go far enough,” Norwood said, preferring a 4% tax that had been proposed last session and failed. He favored any way that the town could have its short-term community help out even in solid waste disposal as well as parking around the town docks.
Vallette said the proposal needs to be studied more and he’d like to listen to the community’s feeling about it and that he approaches the select board as a quasi-judicial body, which is why he asks a lot of questions. He mentioned the plan to establish parking kiosks at Manset and the lower town dock as ways to increase revenue as well as the FEMA money for repairs at the Shore Road and decking on Manset Pier.
YEAR-ROUND LIVING
There was also discussion about the amount of seasonal homes and short-term rentals in the community. Both Benson and Johnson mentioned that they want more year-round homes and families and looking for solutions that don’t necessarily tell property owners what they can and can’t do with their property.
Norwood said that no one really has a good handle on solutions yet and applauded the sustainability committee for its task of inventorying the town to establish how big the problem is and then establish parameters and then present something to the town. Vallette said that Southwest Harbor has valuable real estate, but the community is below the state per capita income average.
“A lot of people living in unsafe conditions, a lot of people living on the edge,” he said. “People are having a really hard time and we need to figure out as a community how can we best serve people who are having troubles.”
CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES OVER TOWN LINES
Benson said he believes the police department will be island wide eventually and that the fire departments currently work well together. The school is also trying to consolidate, he said, but that plan doesn’t sound like it’s cost saving and practical though they have put a lot of work in it.
“I would be all for trying to merge services,” he said and stressed that it took 20 years to consolidate the high school.
”There were people who wouldn’t speak to each other over that subject,” he said. “It won’t happen in a year. These things just take time.”
Johnson said that it’s very hard not only to find employees for emergency services and schools, but also it is hard to find the volunteers that the town is so heavily dependent on for the ambulance service and firefighting.
It’s definitely a major issue, Johnson said, adding that each one of those topics is extremely large with many people involved and each town has its own culture and goals. Southwest Harbor, she said, needs to take into consideration slowly what Southwest Harbor itself needs and what they need to do to get things available for residents.
Norwood said he was in favor of a better and more immediate dialogue with Tremont about sharing services.
“We’re already considering some cooperation with fire and EMS,” he said.
“Things are pretty lonely here in the winter time,” he said, echoing one of Johnson’s earlier remarks and added, “we can combine the communities better.”
Vallette said that when things happen like the Coast Guard no longer providing assistance with the fire department, it impacts the budget.
“Now, to protect us all, it’s increasing,” he said of the cost.
Full island services, he said, is a great concept, but every time Bar Harbor and Mount Desert have been approached, they haven’t been interested. Bar Harbor did put in a proposal to take over Tremont’s police service. Tremont went with Southwest Harbor.
Vallette said the town needs to create the conditions so that ambulance, police, and fire employees can live there.
“That’s why budgets are going up. We’re at the end of the road,” he said, but was also optimistic about finding employees and housing. “We’ve made a lot of great progress in providing better services.”
OTHER DISCUSSIONS
Other discussion focussed on a lack of influence over school, school district, high school, and county budgets, which have been increasing, whether or not there could be different tax rates for year-round residents other than the homestead exemption, the tension between keeping budgets flat and capital improvement needs for the town, and the need for year-round businesses as well as year-round residents.
CANDIDATE PROFILES FROM THE BAR HARBOR STORY
The Bar Harbor Story asked the Southwest Harbor Select Board candidates for bios, photos, and to answer our questions. They kindly did and their responses are below. Not all candidates answered all questions, which is why there is a slight variation between them.
There are two seats up for grabs on the Southwest Harbor Select Board. Both are three-year terms.
The residents of Southwest Harbor will vote for these elected officials at their annual municipal election on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Southwest Harbor Fire Department, 250 Main Street, Southwest Harbor.
The responses are in alphabetical order. All our local election coverage will be on a dedicated tab on the Bar Harbor Story Substack site, here. You can also view archived stories and policies there as well.
TOM BENSON
Occupation: Land Surveyor
Family you’d like to mention: Married to Robin for 37 years and have two grown children, Derek and wife Kareema. Holly and husband KJ Bailey and grandson Brock.
Previous public office positions or appointments: 6 years on town select board
THE QUESTIONS:
Why are you hoping to be on the Southwest Harbor Select Board?
I would like to try and get a handle on the property taxes. We are going to be up in the area of 40% in the last two years. While I was on the board we did not have any increase in property taxes while absorbing the increases from the school budget. Work on the infrastructure plan for current and future projects. We had a plan in place when I was on the board that was voted on and bonded. There was a delay in starting the projects and as a result the costs went up and most of the projects were not done.
What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?
I don’t know the two sitting select board candidates. I don’t have any personal agenda, I would like to bring the property taxes down. The town is going towards seasonal businesses. I would like to try and get some year round businesses to the area. Year round housing is another problem that is a challenge. The town adopted smaller lot sizes for lots that are on town utilities but very few have taken advantage of that. With lot sale prices and taxes going up this is a problem I have not figured out yet. There is talk of the town building housing but I feel that the town should stay out of business and focus on government. I served with Dan Norwood on the board and we work well together and have the same vision for the town.
What do you see as the top issues facing Southwest Harbor and how would your presence on the board help with those issues?
Taxes, infrastructure including the harbor. The harbor is something that does not come up often enough. The board should work closer with the committees so everyone stays on a similar vision moving forward.
Can you speak to tax increases in town and how those with fixed incomes can handle them?
They can not handle a 40% increase. The present board seems to have a disconnect with this. I have year round established young and older families telling me if the taxes keep going up they are going to move from the area.
Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your deeper life purpose?
I would like to get back to the business of running the town. It seems the agendas are focused on Chris’s Pond, and rewriting committee policy. It is mid March and the budget is not done.
How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who are?
Communication. Having them on our agenda to discuss problems. I talked to the chairman of the Harbor Committee who said he was being written up on 4 counts by the select board and was waiting to be called in to answer to these items. I would be appreciative to have people on these board that are willing to put in time. I would want to ask the committee to a meeting and work through the problems with the select board not put the blame and punish the chair.
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 have raised a family who all live and work in the area. We are able to stay close as a result.
Serving on the board trying to preserve this town as a year round community. We are swinging towards a seasonal area.
NATASHA JOHNSON
Occupation: Mount Desert Water District; office manager located in Northeast Harbor. I have worked there for 10 years frequently interacting with different State and regulatory agencies such as the Drinking Water Program, Public Utilities Commission, Department of Transportation, as well as Acadia National Park, the Town of Mount Desert, Versant, League of Towns and Maine Municipal to name just a few. Prior to that I worked at the Town of Mount Desert and the Town of Bar Harbor in the finance department for 4 years. In total, I have 15 years of municipal experience.
Family you’d like to mention: My supportive husband Tyler Johnson as well as both of our children
Previous public office positions or appointments: Previously elected to the select board in 2022.
THE QUESTIONS:
Why are you hoping to be on the Southwest Harbor Select Board?
My feelings have not changed since I ran in 2022 for the select board. There are many issues as well as opportunities still up in the air.; I originally ran because I saw missed opportunities for the town and not a lot of forward thinking in the decisions that had been made for the future of our town. Here are six examples;
1. Prior to 2022 A Climate To Thrive (ACTT) had reached out to The Town of Southwest Harbor to see if we were interested in participating in The Community Resilience Partnership. Unfortunately, no one on the select board or at the town level responded to them. I saw other towns receiving $100,000 in grants and felt like the Town of Southwest Harbor was being left behind (as we had received $0).
Since my election to the board, we have since started participating. When we first began working with ACTT in 2023, we were in the process of re-doing our comprehensive plan. Working with them has really been in the towns best interest for long-term planning; focused on a range of issues including our resiliency. In 2023 we received a $50,000 Community Action Grant that didn’t require a match from the town. This was used for analysis of the towns electricity usage and possible municipal solar sites focused on reducing future electricity costs. This project would meet 100% of the municipal electricity needs.
In July 2025, we worked with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) on a vulnerability assessment that identified areas of concern. If this timing had not happened, the town would have needed to fund the identification of these areas for our comprehensive plan. We have another application in place that builds off of the vulnerability assessment by addressing infrastructure issues facing Southwest Harbor and will help updating our Emergency Management Plan, among other things. This pending grant is for $75,000 and does not require a match. We will find out about the most recent grant application next month.
If the pending grant is funded, the total the town will have received will be $125,000.
2. The towns FEMA funding. When the Town of Southwest Harbor applied for funds, the wrong information was submitted which had made us ineligible for any funding. From my experience in my current job, I realized something was wrong because our experiences were very different. I researched it further and discovered the Town was not in process for any reimbursement. Even though the deadline had passed, I utilized my contacts to expedite a correction, and the town got reinstated into the approval process for FEMA. We have received a portion of the funding and currently have pending obligated funds on the way.
3. We now have funds invested in a manner where it is safe, and which are accruing more interest than sitting in our checking or savings account. The Town of Southwest Harbor has had an investment policy for quite some time. However, prior to my election to the board we had $0 invested.
4. Just prior to being elected to the select board in 2022, the Chris’s Pond project was voted down, which caused the loss of large sums of money we could have used toward the protection of that space for future generations. (The opportunity to apply for a grant was gone). I hear a lot of complaints about the control Acadia National Park has over the land, such as requiring locals to have permits to enter, which is exactly why it is important to have our own lands in the town for our residents to enjoy. We can regulate them the way we want to and not have our land subject to federal rules and regulations – it keeps our control of our land, local. The select board in 2022 supported the Chris’s Pond project – and still do – even without the ability to apply for the grant funds which are no longer available. The Conservation Commission has been able to identify other grants we can apply for.
5. Congressional funds of $2.4 Million. We had an uninsurable building- the Town Garage, that still needs to be replaced. The current select board had our engineering firm apply for congressional funds to help with the rebuild of the garage, which we were successful receiving – this is huge! Instead of taxpayers having to shoulder a bond for the entire amount this will help immensely.
6. $12,000 State refund. Through my municipal work and general interest of things happening at the state level, I was aware that our municipality could apply for a reimbursement of costs for recent ordinance implementation. We applied for that refund and were successful in receiving a full reimbursement for all costs associated with it.
What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?
I excel in solving issues by analyzing them with creative logical approaches. I try to think holistically about our town while being forward thinking and finding compromises if needed on issues at hand. I work well with all of our board members, and I am a good listener. I research our issues and ask questions prior to our meetings if I need further information or clarification so that I am prepared. With complicated issues, I try to break them down into more manageable details which usually puts the board on the path of finding a solution.
What are some similarities?
As candidates, we all bring unique perspectives to the table and we all have a deep love for our town.
What do you see as the top issues facing Southwest Harbor and how would your presence on the board help with those issues?
I believe one of our greatest challenges continues to be how our town will weather uncertainties; of which there are many. Such as; financial (federal funding, potential grants, the educational budget as well as the county budget which are both out of the select boards control) housing (not only for residences but also affordable for our workforce), employees (attracting and keeping knowledgeable and educated staff), environmental (rising sea level and storm severity that could impact utilities and emergency services), even volunteers (on our fire department and our ambulance service) just to name a few. I feel that my presence on the board allows me the opportunity to think outside the box. I really try to be open minded in finding fair solutions that can be a compromise between different viewpoints.
Can you speak to tax increases in town and how those with fixed incomes can handle them?
This is a difficult question and difficult topic.
Unfortunately, the town has previously been underfunded, not the day to day expenses but the CIP (Capital Improvement Program) etc. These gaps need to be filled in so we can make thoughtful decisions and planning instead of needing to make quick emergency repairs, which always cost more. The pain of this, is an ongoing problem with no quick fix and rising costs make it even more painful.
It is through forward thinking, prioritization, planning, and creative financial opportunities that our town can try to limit the impact of higher tax increases which in turn can help all – including those on fixed income budgets, plan well in advance. We need to make long term decisions that have positive long term results.
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I really enjoy municipal work and am excited by the opportunity to continue to use my experience for the benefit of Southwest Harbor if the voters would like me to. I was born on MDI and raised in Southwest Harbor by multiple generations of my family. I grew up working in locally owned family businesses in Southwest Harbor and learned our local history from family members, specifically my Great Grand Father Stanwood King and my Grandfather Les King, both of which also served the Town of Southwest Harbor for many years. My background allows me to bring a unique perspective to the table and I am happy to provide it!
Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your deeper life purpose?
I absolutely love my town. My family roots go back to the first settlers on MDI, prior to when Gotts Island was named Gotts Island (whom I am a descendant of). I have done some traveling and have always felt “there is no place like home.” Because of this I have chosen to continue to live Southwest Harbor and raise our children here; we own and operate family businesses here. I want to help make decisions at the town level that will help ensure a year around community that my children can continue to live in.
We have many issues and opportunities that all need to be assessed and evaluated in creative, broadminded and realistic ways in order to achieve long term viability as a community. I value our history, I believe the young and elderly are vital for insight and I hope more citizens in SWH will come out to support our town by being present, responsive and involved in a positive and productive manner.
DAN C. NORWOOD
Contact information: dcnorwood@gmail.com
Occupation: Carpenter/Builder
Family you’d like to mention: I live in Southwest Harbor with my wife, Bonnie. I have 2 daughters, 3 step-sons and families, and 3 grandchildren.
Previous public office positions or appointments:
SWH School Board
SWH Harbor Committee
SWH Shellfish Conservation Committee
SWH Select Board
THE QUESTIONS
Why are you hoping to be on the Southwest Harbor Select Board?
I previously served on the select board for 9 years and have a good understanding of local government and the issues our town is facing. We are in a crucial time where decisions that affect our entire community need to be made with expedience.
What do you see as the top issues facing Southwest Harbor and how would your presence on the board help with those issues?
I feel it is extremely important that we all work together to build a sustainable future for our town. We are facing many challenges including necessary repairs and improvement to our infrastructure and at the same time working to attract more year-round businesses to maintain a vibrant economy beyond the tourist season.
Dovetailing in with a growing economy, we need to look at different ways of helping our communities to establish affordable workforce and family housing. It is vital that we have a good capital improvement plan. As we witnessed last winter, we need to be prepared and plan ahead to build resilience within our town to our changing climate.
Can you speak to tax increases in town and how those with fixed incomes can handle them?
Over the last few years, we have all seen our taxes increase substantially. The cost of housing has skyrocketed and many of the homes have been sold to summer/weekly rentals. It is imperative that we listen to all ideas and not approach with agendas. Collaborative problem-solving for creative solutions is necessary. In efforts to mitigate tax increases to our town, the select board needs to look at innovative ways of having our summer visitors help with some of these budgeted items. The increased numbers of visitors increase the demands on our solid waste disposal, water, sewer, harbor, Fire, EMS, and Police Departments. We need to work together in a positive manner as we look to the future.
I am an independent thinker and a good listener, and I look forward to the opportunity of implementing fair, strong policies for the citizens of Southwest Harbor. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at dcnorwood@gmail.com.
JAMES R. (JIM) VALLETTE
Campaign Website link (if any) or a way for people to learn more about you/get in touch with you: No website. People can learn about my work and small business, Material Research, at www.materialresearch.world, or LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-vallette/. I’m not very active on Facebook, but I’m there sometimes, too.
Occupation: President of Material Research L3C, a low-profit global supply chain investigations company based in Southwest Harbor.
Family you’d like to mention: My wife Eliza, a brilliant singer, aspiring pianist, and decent cribbage player.
Previous public office positions or appointments: Warrant Committee of Southwest Harbor, 2019 to 2022. Appointed to Acadia Disposal District as Southwest Harbor’s director in 2023, current select board member.
THE QUESTIONS:
Why are you hoping to be on the Southwest Harbor Select Board?
I first ran for select board in 2022 because I had been observing town politics for a while, most recently as a member of the Warrant Committee. Lots of projects were kind of stuck, and there was a lot of controversy over small things. There was turnover on boards and committees and the town office.
Since Natasha Johnson and I joined the board three years ago, the town has stabilized and is back to work. We have been checking off a lot of projects that were past due. For example: There’s a new harbormaster’s office, and an awesome new harbormaster and assistant. We fixed up the Manset lot. Those were big priorities of the Harbor Committee. We hired a terrific new town manager, doing our own due diligence, without needing the help of outside law firms. The Main Street project is almost finished at last. We obtained a $2.4 million federal grant for the town garage. We dredged long-neglected Goog’s Pond, which is back to being a water reservoir for firefighting and a place to skate and picnic in the middle of town. We approved transferring land from Maine Coast Heritage Trust to the town as part of our Chris’ Pond town park. We have a fully staffed police department and are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars by sharing their services with the Town of Tremont. We are investing undesignated funds in secure CDs, earning guaranteed returns. And our town staff is top notch in every department.
We are addressing complex issues with the help of staff and our deep bench of community experts. There are a lot of people in town, new and old, who want to share their skills and knowledge. Together, we can figure anything out. We are about to consider the next phase of development ideas from the Conservation Commission for Chris’ Pond. A new joint task force with Tremont will be figuring common solutions for our ambulance services. Our Sustainability Committee is figuring out ways to deal with our rising housing and solid waste costs, and our growing vulnerability to heavy weather and fire caused by global industrial pollution.
I am asking for our residents’ vote so I can help continue our work together for another three years.
What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?
If the reader is a voter trying to decide between me and Natasha, please, choose Natasha! Because of her expertise in many town-related issues, she often has information that helps me understand an issue before we make decisions. Her kind of leadership is key to our town’s future. I can’t remember anything of significance on which we have disagreed.
I do not yet know about the two challengers’ current positions on issues like Chris’ Pond and polluted groundwater. I look forward to learning more as the campaign continues.
What are some similarities?
We are all small businesspeople. The other three candidates are well respected and known in our community and their families have very deep roots. I was not born here although two of my siblings were :) some 43 years ago. I went to MDI and am a proud member of the Class of ’82. I have lived on the island most my life, worked on the water for 9 summers as a deckhand/tour guide, was a reporter in various forms for about 10 years, and I have lived in Southwest Harbor for the last 27 years. But technically, I guess I am “from away” – possibly the first ever to serve on the SWH Select Board. I have great respect the true locals and what they do for our community – and equally so: newer arrivals and everyone who contributes to the fabric of our awesome town.
What do you see as the top issues facing Southwest Harbor and how would your presence on the board help with those issues?
In no particular order …
Housing. Our new Housing subcommittee is getting busy, and I look forward to their recommendations. II will work to ensure that incentives are developed to protect year-round residents, both property owners and renters, from being priced off the island. We recently asked our assessors, for example, to start crediting property owners who place long-term covenants that ensure any future use will be as affordable year-round residences.
Solid Waste. Our new Solid Waste subcommittee will be making recommendations for reducing our solid waste disposal costs including through new recycling programs. In my first term, I helped to renegotiate our contract with the local transfer station. The new contract creates new possibilities that could decrease our municipal budget by hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
Water Contamination. The been a plume of toxic pollution near to the closed landfill in town. This problem has existed since I was in high school but has not been talked about much. This pollution (PFAS andtoxic solvents) was discovered in Marshall Brook Road residents’ wells 25 years ago. . I am working with the Acadia Disposal District to try and redirect some grant money towards capping the old landfill and help stop the pollution from spreading. I would like to have more dialogue with the independent SWH Water & Sewer District. It’s not an easy fix, monetarily, given the current climate. I am sure we can find a solution and common ground among all parties if we can have a transparent discussion going forward.
Town Garage. Early in my term, the Buy American Act created a pool of federal funds for municipal projects that use U.S.-made materials. I asked our engineer and town manager to find out whether our town garage could apply. It did, and we have a $2.4 million USDA grant in hand. It will need to secure voter approval for a 33% match; if approved, we can finally have a safe place for our Public Works team and equipment.
Other issues. In her first term, Natasha Johnson has been a leader in addressing some other vulnerabilities and challenges, such as climate change impacts, the fate of Seawall Road, and the need for bidding out more contracts and having more in-house engineering capacity to assess bids. I share her perspective and appreciate the knowledge she brings to those discussions. And of course, rising taxes, which I address next.
Can you speak to tax increases in town and how those with fixed incomes can handle them?
Long-term covenants that reduce property taxes will benefit owners and renters on fixed incomes. Covenants can support rented properties that are year-round and affordable. They also can benefit property owners who guarantee that any future use of property will be for affordable, year-round housing. Now that our assessors recognize the validity of such covenants (as has been standard practice in Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert), let’s see how far we can push this. It is past time to establish procedures like this that make our community more affordable for people on fixed incomes.
Unfortunately, many drivers of our tax increases are beyond the direct control of the select board. We have been separated from decisions of the Water & Sewer District, and we had a huge increase this year due to the new construction bond. Our County Taxes doubled in just a few years. We are being charged a higher proportion of the school system’s assessment than before based on a formula change.
In addition, there have been increases in our labor costs, through union negotiations and other raises. These are needed because we need to match our surrounding communities’ increasing pay rates. We are at the end of the road, with little available housing, and this makes it difficult to attract people here.
Our fire department needs paid staff because local volunteers have been on decline because of age, moves, and less participation from local Coast Guard families. Hopefully we can get more participation and reduce the need for paid firefighters.
There are continuing inequities in tax revenues, especially when it comes to solid waste: households are subsidizing large commercial waste generators because the town pays for everything that enters the transfer station gate from all properties in town.
Also, some properties in town had not been revaluated for more than 15 years, way more than is standard. Last year’s assessment raised taxes quite a lot for those properties, for example in the Salem Towne Woods area. People on fixed income are really feeling that.
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I like to be a leader who listens. I love to hear from anybody in town so I can understand your concerns and ideas. This includes people who are not year-round residents but have ties to the town: workers and business-owners who commute here, people who live here seasonally, etc. I’d especially love to hear from new residents and workers and hear about any challenges they face. Our job is to serve everyone in town.
Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your deeper life purpose?
I try to live the bumper sticker, “Think Globally, Act Locally.” In my regular job, I track supply chains around the world for my small business, Material Research L3C. We work on some big issues like chemical disasters, toxic pollution, data security, and human rights. Because of this work, I have a kind of radar for justice wherever it is needed. When things seemed broken in town, it was my turn to step up. When they are fixed as best as I can help, I will gladly step away. I don’t like the spotlight, but I will try my best while it’s my turn.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Rick Osann Art.
*Photos in the top portion of this story: Shaun Farrar/Carrie Jones/Bar Harbor Story
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