MY PHILOSOPHY is SIMPLE…
- Listen, learn from and respond to the residents & students of South Portland
- Use my extensive experience and expertise to address the issues and needs important to South Portland residents & students
- Gather a network of residents who want to support my election AND are willing to offer opinions and perspectives by phone or website once I am elected… To me this is a “WE” thing not a “ME” thing
MY STORY…
Over the last two years I have ridden the “re-districting train” in South Portland. As it all unfolded, I found myself asking questions like “what are the qualifications to be on the Board of Education” and “why aren’t the people being included earlier and more often”? As I pondered these questions, I realized that the board members are just good people trying to do the right thing. The job is very difficult and rarely rewarding.
We are all so busy these days; frequently we don’t take the time to consider what is valuable and where we can help. Until the process, I did not consider the sacrifice of people that are willing to serve on these boards and the magnitude of their decision-making. There are so many people in our community that have much to offer in a variety of ways. We just need to find them and encourage them to join together. We should have the luxury of matching qualifications with needs.
For me, it begins here! I have almost every relevant experience necessary to be a qualified and informed member of the SPSD Board of Education. I currently work for LL Bean as a tax accountant. Prior to LL Bean I worked for 8 years as Finance & Data Manger for a municipal solid waste district spanning 22 cities and towns (60,000 people). At the same time, I was an athletic director and coach for 7 years in a school district serving 10,000 people. I have served on non-profit boards as member, chair and treasurer and started a non-profit organization. I have the experience and qualifications that are needed to serve the people of South Portland.
The biggest criticism I voiced to the current SPSD Board was that considering the sensitivity of the issue, I did not feel they had developed a thorough and inclusive process where the citizens had enough time to understand the complexity and feel that their input was heard AND considered. It truly felt like a community splitting apart… a wasted opportunity to bring our community together.
This is something I will work toward… an easy and available opportunity for ALL people to be heard, considered and personally responded to so that they can too help provide a great place in Maine for children to live, grow, thrive and be educated. Please consider weighing the qualifications of all candidates for the Board of Education before voting.