Election day 2011

I have run for election in Belfast 5 times. Three times I had an opponent and I hate to confess that I really like the competitive nature of a political race. It challenges you, me, to think and to put who I am and what I stand for and what I will do, what I have done. The people who vote deserve this and it’s good for everyone. This year I have no opponent. I have run with and without an opponent and I will tell you this: it’s a lot easier to run with no opponent. I do not have to write letters, campaign, make television speeches, attend candidates nights, make or put up signs, blog, etc. etc. It’s a lot of work. The common belief is that we on the city council must be doing something right if Eric Sanders and I did not attract an opponent. It is true that things are going pretty good in Belfast but they can always be better. My single greatest motivation is to improve Belfast’s economy. For all the people that we have here who are doing well we have just as many, if not more, who are not. Look at the statistics on income, hunger, poverty, etc. etc. and you will see that we are not as well off as many people seem to think we are. We have a lot of work to do. Improving the economy does not just mean rolling over for everyone or anyone who has a job to offer, or looking the other way when something that business does is hurting our town. Improving the downtown, the recreation, the waterfront, the quality of life for all of Belfast and our area is critical to improving our economy and making this not just a great place to live but a place Belfast area children will want to stay or come back to to live their lives as well. I’m glad that I do not have to kill myself working to get reelected so that instead I can focus on continuing to serve without the distraction of running. Thanks for your support. And if you do not support the work I have done, and plan on doing, I want you to know I work for everyone in Belfast. I do not just focus on people who may support me. I have lived in Belfast since 1978. I’ve seen us come up from truly hard times and I have great faith in our future. I take great pride in knowing people from all walks of life; especially people who might be intimidated by government or people of greater means. Working people, poorer people, people who grew up here raising families, working hard in the chicken, shoe, windows, potato, shoe, sewing, and other industries are the steel in our backbone. They know what it means to work hard just to get by. I know many of these fine people by first name and even those I do not know I never forget them. They may not be as comfortable making their hometown voices, ideas, dreams and community pride heard but I think of these people every day. I try to speak up for them. I do not just want to make Belfast a better place for a portion of Belfast. I want Belfast to be a model city of inclusion and thoughtful neighbors that gives everyone a place. Thank you for giving me a chance to make a difference and make Belfast a better place to live. Contact me anytime. I always look forward to speaking with you and meeting you. And yes; I am still on fire for Belfast.

Why move here if you do not like it so much?

I was listening to someone tell me why we should cut this and that from the City budget. They’d moved here a few years ago. Everything they wanted to cut: events, support for various groups, the parks, the library, etc. etc. I support 100% as helping to make Belfast the attractive and growing city it is today. The guy sharing his tax cutting ideas had one focus: saving himself 5.00 or 10.00 off his tax bill. Our economy is growing and I seek to grow and all of the suggested cuts make Belfast a better place. I asked the guy, “Why’d you move here as opposed to some town like Newport or Waldo where they don’t have any of this stuff? It would be like me moving to some born again burg in rural Mississippi and asking where’s the food co-op, why don’t we have a dog park, what do you mean there’s YMCA?” Belfast isn’t like a lot of towns in Maine. I like it the way Belfast is and the way it is headed and I’m going to continue to support the events, groups, and programs that makes us the envy of Maine.

whatever did the Eastside machine stand for and where it went

At the rededicating of Armistice Bridge, aka the walking bridge” I found where the East side machine went mushy and revealed their callow emptiness. Long ago the East side of Belfast was where the farmers and the poorer people of Belfast lived. They were pretty good at staying organized and watching out for working people. The bosses and the ruling classes lived in town. But somewhere along the line they were taken over to basically support the aspirations of Dana Keene. I like Dana but I never get confused about what Dana is taking care of. I don’t mind that Dana tried to get the big box built only on his property. With his right hand man Lew Baker. That’s their right and when there are millions to be made there’s plenty of right at hand. When the East side got a cell phone tower installed during an ice storm right smack next to Jim Roberts home in large part thanks to his and his neighbors demanding the absolute zoning right for anyone to do anything they wanted anywhere…… and to make it doubly worse……it only took the affordable housing units put in again without zoning review to get the neighborhood to see the light about changing the zoning.

But I digress: what really amazed me was that when the walking bridge was up for rebuilding not one of the so called “leaders” stepped up to help. It was the way every East Side kid would walk to town, it was going to be paid for by all the other wards primarily, but where were Dana Keene, Jim Roberts, Lew Baker, Walter Ash? Opposed. If there had been money in it for Dana oh how the East Side crocodile tears and miniature violin music would have poured forth.

Anyway, the old East Side is gone as million dollar homes line the Italian sea shore of Robbin’s Road. They still think they represent someone but the time has passed.

do the best you can

Keeping your eye on the ball in our own home town.

Awash in tea the country has gone mad, are mad, and they’re not going to take “it”, whatever “it” is, anymore. I don’t blame anyone for being mad; I’ve been irate for about forty years. The funny part about everyone being so mad is that as soon as there’s a white guy in the white house and there’s another bubble they can bank on: all that mad stuff goes out the window. Not with me: I stoke my mad like a coal shoveling boiler keeper with something to prove. Douglas MacArthur’s only son Arthur said “My Father was an even tempered man, he had one emotion: rage.” Long ago I learned to set aside my mad and get to work. Not that the mad in me is diminished but it is put on the back burner to simmer.

Teddy Roosevelt said; “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” For me that means Belfast and our immediate area. I know Belfast and our people in all its complexities and shades but I get progressively lost as I venture afield. I do the best I can with what we have here in Belfast.

Next week we’ll have another go at city council elections. There’s a lot at stake. You elect these folks and for most citizens they’ll lose track quickly whether someone is doing a good or a bad job, offering any direction or leadership or being a total zero.

I have had many people say to me, “who is so and so?” They should know but they don’t. There’s a huge difference between people who live and breathe this stuff and normal good residents who hope that these things work out well.

There’s 8-9 days left before election day. How you vote will make a difference. Take a minute to ask your friends or neighbors about the city council candidates. Who we elect will help steer for the next few years. Let’s try and get it right. There is a difference between good and bad.

Let’s try lower taxes! Oh really?

There’s a sign in Belfast that say’s “Let’s try lower taxes.” Oh really? That’s a great idea. We had never thought of it before. Okay..okay.. forget the sarcasm. When I run into a stupid suggestion I tend to react badly and impatiently. First off the very idea of the slogan suggests that no one had thought of it before since we’re obviously too stupid to do anything but spend money without a concern. After all, they say, it’s not our money it is “our money”… As a tax payer myself I am very aware of the taxes my wife and I pay and it isn’t a minor amount. Sharing ten plus years on the city council I can tell you I have never run into a councilor who spends foolishly. You may not like what they spend the money on but councilors do seriously consider tax implications.

A guy I know always complained to me about taxes. then one night his house caught fire. The police arrived and helped fight it until the fire dept. arrived. By then the irate taxpayer was feeling odd and the ambulance had to come get him and then the ambulance couldn’t get to his dooryard as this was all during a blizzard so highway had to come out and plow his driveway. Later I said to him if he lived in tax heaven his house would have burned and he’d be dead. Other than that how did he enjoy his evening of city services?

You want low taxes? head up past the Bangor Mall and go about 70 miles. Take a left into TWP 6R7 and you will find tax haters heaven. Real low taxes but don’t bother calling anyone when the house catches fire. Or you need a library or want to launch your boat or the neighbors dog is trying to bite you or some crack heads are stealing your stuff or the road is filled with that white stuff called snow. For the life of me I am always amazed that people seem to want to live smack in the middle of stuff they appear to hate. Why set up your tent where you know you’ll be aggravated?

Bottom line is: if you want to make your platform lowering taxes please give us a list of what you would cut and what would be the impact on the budget and the tax bill. The total city tax bill is for 3.75 million. We’re 35% of the tax bill you receive. 55% schools and 10% county. Let’s say you cut the city budget by 10% or 375,000.00. The effect would be a tiny % off your tax bill. What do you cut? All of the donations to various promotions like Chamber of Commerce, Memorial Day flags, snowmobile club, Summer Nights or the Celtic Festival etc etc. and you have cut 78,000.00 … only 300K to go. Good luck. Having done 11 years of budgets I can say unless you cut deep and hard there’s not going to be an effect.

Which brings up the question: what effect are you looking for? If what you want is pain and 3% saved on your taxes the road is clear. If the effect you want is fair taxes and a great place to live it takes a little more work.It’s not a great slogan but it makes for a good city. Personally I like Belfast a lot and I think we have a good place here and it is partially due to wise budgeting. .

The city has lowered taxes three years in a row while making critical investments in our future. While other cities have gone up Belfast has held the line or lowered. That’s to be applauded and not criticized with an empty slogan.

Run Erin Run: why I am voting for Erin Herbig

Hi friends…..

Why am I voting for Erin Herbig for State of Maine legislature? Let me count the many reasons. 1. She is a native of Belfast with deep roots. 2. She went away to college and work and chose to come back home to Belfast. 3. She was an outstanding track star with a competitive winning streak. 4. She was the Energizer bunny working her way through school. 5. She successfully has one foot in the old Belfast, Northport, and Belmont communities with her other foot firmly in the future. 6. She is relentlessly optimistic and forward looking. 7. Her cheerful and youthful attitude makes you want to smile. 8. Her broad sense of fairness and responsibility will serve us well in Augusta. 9. She truly represents our area.

Belmont, Northport, and Belfast have a special composition. We’ve got the Tea Party and the wild eyed lefties. We’re bustling with new energy and encouragement. New young families live side by side with seasoned natives. We are not one thing; we are a lot of things. Erin wouldn’t fit in here as well as she does if we were not so diverse. To represent us truly a person must understand all of the varied people who call our district home. Erin has that understanding. We are not a simple district to represent. It takes empathy and sensitivity to all sides. Erin Herbig has that grasp of our district. She will represent all of us in the truest sense of the word.

Lastly; I see Erin as a powerful catalyst that will help bring the change to Augusta that we all want. We need to elect Erin and send her to Augusta just to let her show us what she can do. I feel fortunate and thankful to have the chance to vote for Erin Herbig and I hope the people of Belmont, Northport, and Belfast will support her in her run.

I am voting for Marina Delune

Last year I ran from the outside: uninvited and unwanted by the serving council and was elected to the Belfast City Council. I didn’t really know what my fellow councilors would be like. I ran mainly because of economic malaise and I still serve to foster economic development, grow our community in a healthy way, and try to bring a common sense approach on all things without being stupid. Hence: we legalized chickens and I am not about to support a complex ordinance for “metal detector” use. That’s small town common sense.

Over the last many years I had known Marina Delune peripherally as a friend and to talk politics with. Though we rarely spoke about Belfast politics anyone who cares about policy of the USA can usually find some traction when it comes to legalizing chickens. Spending a year in meetings, workshops, events, and conversation is a good way to truly take a measure of the person. And I have done that.

Marina is running for a 2nd term of the Belfast City Council. I am supporting her re-election because she deserves to be re-elected. She has represented the people of Belfast admirably. She has a huge heart. Maybe she cares too much but will not go cold on you when we’re talking about seizing someone’s tax delinquent home or funding the soup kitchen. Marina’s first instincts is to err on the side of the poor, the less represented, and the disenfranchised. That’s not enough of a reason to elect her but it is important. She’s not there for herself, or her friends, or a unseen group of backers. She is there working hard to represent the town she loves. She is on top of every issue we address, she is thoughtful, and open to discussion. She changes her mind when given new facts; maybe too often to some people….. but it does show that she doesn’t claim to know everything and is willing to listen before making a decision. There are good reasons to change horses in mid stream but not with Marina. I hope you will support Marina because she has done a good job for you and there is every reason to expect that she’ll continue to do so. I am looking forward to voting for Marina. Here are a few points about Marina….

• Has 2 years experience on the City Council.

• Is a moderate voice, listens to everyone’s concerns, and votes when all the facts are in.

• Pushed for the use of surplus funds to keep taxes from being raised.

• Will work for affordable housing and jobs for lower skilled workers so that Belfast retains its socioeconomic diversity, and doesn’t “become Camden.”

• Advocated for the hiring of an Economic Development Director to attract, grow, and retain jobs in Belfast.

• Will work with the Economic Development Director to develop a food processing plant to create jobs and support local farmers.

• Cut in half the required number of parking spaces to develop a restaurant in response to a restaurant owner’s complaint that the current was a barrier to his business.

• Supported the relaxation of restrictions to home based businesses initially proposed in the Comprehensive Plan.

• Took the initiative to contact the National Theater Workshop for the Handicapped to allow a possible alternative to the Matthews Brothers building for the use of a civic or community center.

• Has shown leadership in promoting energy efficiency and was instrumental in Belfast’s receipt of $48,000 in grant awards to weatherize City buildings and create more jobs through weatherization home improvements

• Has participated in the preliminary work for the Waterfront Plan and will work to add dock space, and preserve the working waterfront.

Vote for John Piotti

From my perch in Belfast I have observed John Piotti with envy. Why did he have to live all the way over in Unity? I followed his service and leadership in the Maine legislature and at Maine Farmland Trust where he has led the single most forward working organization that will save farms for our future. John Piotti is now running to represent all of Waldo County in the Maine Senate and I could not be more enthusiastic in supporting his effort. He is ethical, hard working, a true non partisan, a problem solver and a genuine public servant in the best sense of the term. He has been a standout legislator and I hope with our confidence and support he will be Waldo County’s next State of Maine Senator. Waldo County can not do better. I will vote for John Piotti.

Be on the walking bridge Oct. 8th at 12 noon for rededication with Governor Baldacci

Belfast Armistice Bridge to be rededicated with Governor Baldacci this coming Friday
By Mike Hurley, Politically Speaking: Belfast and Beyond | Oct 02, 2010

Please join all of Belfast and Governor Baldacci in rededicating the newly restored Belfast walking bridge this Friday at 12:00 noon. Bring the school kids, the old folks, and let’s pack the bridge! The Governor has confirmed he will attend. This is a bit of a farewell tour for Governor Baldacci.

Belfast — Belfast citizens group Friends of the Bridge has announced that Col. John “Jack” Mosher will be present at noon Friday, Oct. 8, to officially christen Armistice Bridge, the footbridge at the base of Pierce St., and to unveil the bronze memorial plaque that lists the 55 “Sons of Waldo County” who perished in World War I.

Mosher is himself a son of Waldo County, having been a lifelong resident of Burnham until a recent move to Waterville. Mosher is a decorated combat veteran of the war in Afghanistan and currently serves as director of operations for the Maine Army National Guard.

In addition to his official duties, Mosher has also worked to improve services to aging veterans as well as for suicide prevention among troops currently serving. According to a spokesman for the Maine Army National Guard, the colonel recently ran an ultra-marathon from Washington, D.C., to Maine to raise awareness of veterans’ issues.

“I have a great sense of devotion and affinity for our veteran heroes of Waldo County,” said Mosher, adding, “I will speak proudly on behalf of our veterans … and from my heart.”

The public is invited to attend this official re-dedication ceremony of the bridge, which was originally dedicated 89 years ago to the day in 1921. Back then, it was called Veterans Memorial Bridge and stood as a monument to World War I. It was abandoned as a vehicle bridge in the 1960s, and Belfast’s Route One bridge took the name Veterans Memorial Bridge.

In 2004, Belfast residents voted to save and renovate the badly deteriorating footbridge, and it was reopened in 2006. Friends of the Bridge recently raised $4,000 to reproduce a bronze plaque missing since the 1960s that lists the 55 soldiers from Waldo County who died during World War I.

Earlier this year, Friends of the Bridge successfully petitioned the Belfast City Council to officially rename the span “Armistice Bridge,” in an effort to recapture its significance as a World War I memorial. That war came to an end when the Armistice was signed in November 1918.

For many years, Armistice Day was celebrated in memory of that peace. In the late ’50s, the United States Congress changed the name to Veterans Day. Friday’s event will begin at the west end of Armistice Bridge with comments from Friends of the Bridge organizers Tammy Lacher Scully and Francis Marsano, as well as Mosher. Gov. John Baldacci is also expected to attend, as are descendants of the men listed on the plaque. After brief comments, there will be a procession across the bridge to unveil the plaque, which will be mounted in much the same fashion as the original.

“Francis and I have been looking forward to this day for a long time,” said Scully, adding, “It will restore the bridge to what it was always meant to be — a memorial to a war that many hoped would end all war.”

For further information, contact Scully at 338-2361 or at tlscully@myfairpoint.net.

Paula Paige for Governor

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Why I love Paul LePage
By Mike Hurley, Politically Speaking: Belfast and Beyond | Oct 01, 2010
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The day after the primary my wife asked me at breakfast, “Who’s Paula Paige?” I thought it was really funny then even if it did clarify what I knew already: my wife’s attention to politics level is somewhat on the low side. But in retrospect I was glad about one thing; That Paul Le Page hadn’t heard her say it. He’d probably curse her out or want to beat her up. And I thought; that’s the kind of guy I want as governor. A guy who goes reeling from altercation to self immolation in a tabloid old school fashion. For the sheer entertainment value you cannot go wrong with Paula Paige. Just writing it makes me laugh. Okay maybe cackle is a bit more apt. Paula Paige the trans gender ex WWF lady wrestler turned Gov with smeared lipstick and a big attitude. I have been beat up by more than a few guys but I will bet there is still room on my dance card for getting beat up by a big mad woman. Okay, okay…..Let’s slide back to reality.

Gov. Baldacci was the most boring governor. Other than falling off the ice covered porch or rolling (and not on the tires) along in his suv we will be hard pressed to sing his praises. But Le Page? We might not sing his praises but we will remember him. He has said “what you see is what you get” and here’s what we’ll get. A blustering, short tempered, insulting, mean and ineffective guy who is in way over his head. We’ll be the losers but it’s not like things have been going all that great anyway. He won’t endanger much. He’ll demonstrate just how good things can go with a Tea Party dude and he’ll keep us laughing and cringing while the seemingly unfixable world we’ve descended into continues to plummet. Remember Billy Carter? As Maine goes so goes the nation. All the states are going stupid this year. Let’s be sure to be one amongst the least. Anyway… there is one good side, an upside to all this: now that Paul has had his Florida tax dodges discovered there’ll be a little more cash in the state coffers.

http://waldo.villagesoup.com/business/brief/politics/why-i-love-paul-lepage/354860