Standish candidates are speaking out about a variety of issues ranging from urban sprawl to school curriculum to taxation, all of them vying for seats on the Town Council, School Board and Planning Board in this upcoming election on June 13.
On the Town Council, Cara Childs is facing off with Margaret Spencer for the at-large, three-year term seat. Carolyn Biegel is contending with Paul Mosley for the Area 1 post, while Louis Stack is looking to unseat Area 4 incumbent Jeffrey Richardson.
For the Planning Board, Joseph Favreau is running uncontested while Christopher Parkin and Peter Walker contend for the at-large-seat.
On the School Board, Russell Johnson is taking on Teresa Whyte for SAD 6 Director, an at-large, one-year term seat.
For the Budget Committee, John Sargent is running uncontested with two write-ins available on the ballot for the at-large, two-year seat, while no one is running for the three-year seat.
Polls open at the George E. Jack Elementary School at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Absentee ballots can be requested by voters at the town office. For more information, call the Standish Town Hall at 642-3461 or the Town Clerk’s Office at 642-4678.
Town Council candidates
Area 1, 3 year term, Paul Mosley vs. Carolyn Biegel
Paul G. Mosley
A native of Maine, Paul Mosley, 55, has been living in Standish since 1963. He resides on Bonny Eagle Road with his wife, Pat. He has two children, Neal and Janet. After graduating from Bonny Eagle High School, Mosley served in the construction outfit, Seabees, in the United States Navy for 22 years, retiring with the rank of chief. In addition to 30 years of construction experience, Mosley is also part of a family-run business, Bonny Eagle Lumber, and is president of the Standish Kiwanis Club.
When asked what his motivation is for running for a three-year term on the Town Council, Mosley did not specify, saying, “Some things are going okay. Could there be improvement? Yes…” Mosley went on to say his inspiration comes from the Founding Fathers, “They each stepped forward to serve their country, and after serving they fell back into the ranks. That’s what I plan to do.”
Serving for five years on the Planning Board since 2000, Mosley hopes to draw from that experience if he is elected to the Town Council. “Once you’ve served,” he said, “you have a better perspective on town issues. The Planning Board has given me some experience, but there’s going to be new lessons.”
Mosley also served on the Roadway Planning Committee and the Community Center Study Committee (he is a proponent of the building of a new community center in Standish).
Mosley’s life in the U.S. Navy, he said, is what ultimately qualifies him for the job. “My military experience counts for an awful lot. Discipline, professionalism, leadership-these are qualities you gain in the Navy. There’s no room in this job to be lackadaisical and unprofessional. I also don’t have to overcome the stigma of speaking in front of lots of people to get the job done.”
Anecdotally, Mosley said that when he was in the Navy he was assigned to oversee the construction of an addition to Camp David during the Reagan Administration. “You know you’re trusted when there’s no secret service between you and the President,” something Mosley suggests is a qualifying measure of his abilities as a leader.
Paul Mosley is running against Carolyn Biegel for a three-year term on Town Council.
Carolyn D. Biegel
Carolyn Biegel, 44, grew up in Auburn and now lives in Standish with her husband, Peter, who is on the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and their three daughters. She received her bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation from the University of Maine at Farmington and her master’s in Councilor’s Education from the University of Southern Maine.
Biegel’s motivation for running, she said, stems from the construction of “out of scale” commercial buildings in her neighborhood. After the construction of the new Pit Stop gas station and the bulk plant, Biegle said she began to ask questions about the encroachment of commercial use buildings on the rural setting of Standish.
“It’s all been about the appropriateness” of high-impact commercial use, Biegel says. “In the last few years I’ve noticed a large number of concerned residents who love this town. And it’s not just me…They would like to see it stay an attractive place to live.”
Another reason for Biegel’s candidacy is to inform Standish citizens. She feels that many questions that are asked at town meetings are slighted or not answered at all.
“A lot of residents are frustrated,” she said. “I think that the councilors are there to represent [residents’] views, and, overtime, that gets lost,” Biegel said. “When you come before these boards, don’t make statements, ask questions and keep asking until they’re answered.”
A proponent of the Comprehensive Plan, Biegel believes that ordinances and development should adhere more closely to the guidelines created by the town, and that economic development grants should be pursued in order to pay for planning.
“We need vision,” she said. “And then you get people working for that vision.” She is also concerned about property taxes, and does not necessarily believe that commercial development will lower those taxes. Biegel referred to the urban sprawl on Route 302 in Windham, a town that “has much higher taxes.”
Biegle claims that her degrees and experience with team- and leadership-building and the fact that she is not afraid to ask questions and do the research required by the position is what qualifies her for the job. “Everyone’s got a goal,” she says, “and we need to make this a really great place to live.”
Area 4, 2-year-term
Louis Stack vs. Jeffrey Richardson
Louis A. Stack
Louis Stack, 64, resides on Whites Bridge Road in Standish with his wife, Wilma. He graduated from Bonny Eagle High School and received his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Maine at Orono, and shortly afterwards served in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1968.
Stack served on the Standish Comprehensive Plan Committee for the last two-and-a-half years and served for five years on the Budget Committee, three of which he spent as Chairman. He also worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a federal supervisor for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Stack says his motivation for running is “to represent the taxpayers” of Standish.
One issue Stack wishes to address is the spending habits of town government, “We need to keep the taxes low…there should be no spending on unnecessary items,” he said.
One such item, he argues, is the proposed community center, which will be voted on June 13. Stack also points out that surpluses, if there happens to be one, should be given back to the taxpayers.
“If there is a surplus, the town is likely to spend unnecessarily,” Stack said. “In my experience, citizens can manage tax money better than the town can.”
A related concern Stack has is the development and growth of the town of Standish.
“I’d like to see more commercial development and control growth in such a way so that it is buffered to maintain the rural character of the town,” he said.
To limit sprawl, Stack said, there should be tax and other available incentives in place. “There’s a tremendous potential to develop in Standish. There’s no reason why that can’t be done while maintaining the rural and historic character of the town.”
Drawing from his experience working for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Stack also supports the proposed elderly housing ordinance-a necessary expenditure, he says-which will provide staged assisted living services for senior citizens, and promotes single- and multi-family housing.
When asked what it is about Standish that makes him want to run for a seat on Town Council, Stack quickly responded, “This is where I grew up. I have a lot of fond memories living here. I’d like to see the Sebago region improved.”
Louis Stack is running against incumbent Jeffrey Richardson for the Area 4, two-year term on Town Council on June 13.
Jeffrey D. Richardson
Born and raised in Standish, Jeffrey Richardson, 52, graduated from Bonny Eagle High School and attended the University of Southern Maine. He was Road Commissioner for Standish from 1979 to 1984, served on the Town Council from 1994 to 2001 (chairman for three of those years), Chairman of the Portland Water District Committee and was a member of the Charter Commission in 1986 and 1987 and the School Board from 2002 to 2006.
Richardson has been serving on the Town Council since January of this year, replacing the late Gerald Spencer on the Area Four seat on the Town Council. Richardson owns and operates a marina on Whites Bridge Road and lives in Standish with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two daughters, Anne and Amy.
Richardson says that after receiving some calls from concerned residents, he decided once again to run for Town Council. One of his major concerns is with the Portland Water District, a regular litigious combatant with the town of Standish, according to Richardson, and he says that for the sake of the cost of attorneys, it would be more financially sound to begin productive dialogue with the district as opposed to pursuing costly legal entanglements.
Richardson says that development is another issue with which he is concerned. He agrees with “a majority of the Comprehensive Plan” and wants “to make sure that the Route 25 corridor doesn’t start looking like Route 302.”
He proposes a “practical” approach to development-“They key is to manage the growth,” he says. Richardson said that one of the biggest issues of urban growth centers on the Sebago Lake Village.
Richardson says that he supports conservation subdivisions, where the town for the benefit of the community can manage the open space around the residential areas.
“I’m familiar with the job,” Richardson said of his 26 years of experience serving in local government. “I’ve got the foresight and I know all of the people at the Water District and on the state level.”
Town Council, At Large, 3 Years
Cara Childs vs. Margaret Spencer
Cara M. Childs
Born in Massachusetts, Cara Childs, 36, lives on Blake Road in Standish with her husband, Tom, and two sons George and Dylan. She attended the University of Massachusetts in Lowell and in Boston, where she studied Literature.
“As a mother of a young family, I’m concerned about the decisions of the council,” Childs said of her reasons for running for the three-year term.
In particular, Childs says she feels that although the Comprehensive Plan is well constructed and serves the needs of Standish, she is concerned about the type of development that the Standish Town Council has approved over the years, referring to the new Pit Stop gas station built on Ossippee Trail/Route 25. “I understand that there needs to be development,” she says, “but I’m concerned about the type of development.”
Childs said there needs to be more dialogue concerning the changing landscape of Standish, and because Childs is frustrated with her representatives for not addressing her concerns, especially those of the rural character of Standish, she has decided to run. “I constantly write to my congressmen and senator: ‘please help me.’ But they don’t. They’re not really listening. This is a big reason why I’m running.”
Childs also believes there needs to be younger members representing Standish citizens. “It’s time for young families to be on the council.”
Childs, like her opponent, Margaret Spencer, is also in favor of a community center in Standish. According to Childs, the center should definitely cater to teenagers, suggesting that such a recreational center would prevent illegal behavior. “I know what its like to live in a small town with nothing to do,” she said.
The availability of information is also a large concern Childs wishes to address if she is elected to the council. “People are not as well informed as the should be. There definitely needs to be more communication” between the town government and the taxpayers. Childs promises to concentrate on this subject, and her goal is to get more people to attend town meetings.
Childs believes that because she is a beginner in town politics, her “trepidation” will cause her to be cautious and more thorough lest mistakes be made. “I am willing to do the research… I hope to bring a fair and thoughtful consideration to the issues that need to be debated.”
Cara Childs is running against Margaret Spencer for the at large, three-year term on Town Council.
Margaret A. Spencer
Margaret Spencer, 66, has been a resident of Standish for the past 24 years. She has two children and four grandchildren and is the widow of Gerald Spencer, a former member of the Standish Town Council.
Spencer claims that she has always been interested in running for a seat on the Town Council. “And since I have the time,” she says, “I thought I would give back to the community. I don’t have an agenda or any special interests.”
The issues Spencer plans to take up on the council include the proposed community center. The purchase of the land on which the center will be built, worth $325,000, will be voted on as a referendum during June 13’s elections, and Spencer believes that “if it is the will of the people” the town should move forward with construction.
Spencer supports the youth of Standish through a memorial fund in honor of her husband that awards scholarships. By gaining a seat on the council, Spencer says that she will have the opportunity to support the young people of Standish more effectively.
Taxes are also a concern of this candidate, specifically with the impact they have on seniors. “I’m interested in trying to keep everything balanced,” said Spencer, “and I have a serious concern with property taxes and I’m afraid that it will be more than seniors can handle on a fixed income.”
When asked where she would like to see the town in five years if elected, Spencer said that she “would like to see some projects finished,” particularly capital improvement projects. She would also like to see the comprehensive plan updated and its guidelines followed by the town.
“After 20 years of following the Planning Board, Appeals (Board) and the Town Council,” she says of her experience as an active member of the Standish community, “I think I’m prepared to be on the council.”
SAD 6 School Board
At Large, 3 year term
David A. Hopkins is running uncontested for this post. There are two available write-ins.
At Large, 1 year term
Teresa Whyte vs. Russell Johnson
Teresa R. Whyte
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Whyte is a “stay-at-home” mom who has taken interest in the SAD 6 School Board. She graduated from Purdue University in 1991 with a degree in Speech Science, which offered her an experience with language, she said, that lends itself to the requirements of an administrative post.
Whyte’s concerns for SAD 6 include “making sure that students are technologically prepared for the workforce.” As an example, Whyte proposes that there should be a state-of-the-art computer lab available for students and community members alike.
“We also need to get the districts and towns working together,” Whyte said. “A lot of people who don’t have kids in the system are often left out. Facilities should be open to everyone, and hopefully this will help bring the town together.”
Another problem, Whyte suggests, is the size of SAD 6, the largest SAD in the state of Maine, which serves the towns of Buxton, Hollis, Limington, Standish and Frye Island. With approximately 4,000 students enrolled in the district, Whyte contends, “there’s a lack of community because it’s such a large area under one district.”
A central reason for Whyte’s running, she says, is her practical approach to education. “Taxpayers see the results of the whole educational system,” she said. “We need to get the district and the towns working together…better, and more often.”
Whyte says that although she has limited experience in politics and administration, she is unbridled with political habit and isn’t afraid of asking questions. “I want to do what needs to be done… I’m not afraid to ask what needs to be done, nor am I afraid to admit when I’m wrong. I’m a taxpayer and a mother,” which, according to Whyte, qualifies her for the job.
In terms of the policies and procedures of the directorship, Whyte says that she’s a “quick study.” “It won’t take me long to figure everything out,” she says. And as far as personal rewards for such a job, Whyte believes “no one’s going to say anything when you’re right, but they’ll definitely be there when you’re wrong.”
Teresa Whyte is running against Russell Johnson for MSAD 6 Director on June 13th.
Russell E. Johnson
A graduate of Bonny Eagle High School, Russell Johnson, 28, lives in Standish with his wife, Amy. He received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Vermont and is a business manager for sales and operation at the retail store, Staples.
“I’ve watched a lot of school board meetings and I’m very familiar with the business. I have a good sense of what’s going on,” Johnson said about his motivation for running for the directorship of District 6.
Although Johnson does not have any children, he still feels he is qualified for the job. In fact, it is for that very reason that he wishes to run. “When I do have kids,” he says, “I want him or her to go to a good school.”
Johnson believes that there should be a re-evaluation of learning standards in MSAD 6, including more concentration on social sciences and technology. “If they can’t operate technology, they’re a step behind… you have to elevate the school system and once you’ve got that momentum, the area will be more attractive economically. It’s a necessary investment.”
Johnson believes that his youth, in comparison to those already on the board, is his advantage. “I have a lot of peers I look to be the voice for,” he says, “and they all have different views than those who’ve been on the board for a while…” Johnson also contends that the subject matter he studied in college, which is more up to date or perhaps is more developed than material taught in the past, should be applied to the job. “Bringing that down to the high school level will be beneficial,” he says.
A large concern, Johnson said, is the size of SAD 6. “When the district is that large, there’s a huge discrepancy in continuity-that’s the danger.” Although he feels that it would be a very difficult and perhaps financially problematic task to create an autonomous Standish school system, he would be in favor of “splitting up the district,” for the benefit of the town and its students.
When asked if his age would be a disadvantage in the election and on the board if he were elected, Johnson said confidently, “I’ve already overcome that in business.”
Planning Board
Area 2, 3 Years
Joseph G. Favereau is running uncontested for the Area Two, three-year term seat on the Planning Board. There is one available write-in slot for this seat.
At Large, 3 Years
Peter Walker vs. Christopher Parkin
Peter F. Walker
Peter F. Walker, 56, is a graduate of Bonny Eagle High School and resides on Richville Mill Pond with his wife Miriam. He worked as an equipment engineer for ASM America, and has lived in Vermont, Holland and Israel before returning to Standish.
With his sights set on a position on the Standish Planning Board, Walker says his candidacy is not based on any personal agenda. “Nothing negative has pushed me to run for Planning Board,” he says. “I’m running because I have a lot history with this town. Standish is in desperate need of volunteers.”
Walker’s central concern is “runaway development” and the effect of urban sprawl on a rural community, a contentious issue for many towns in the area, he says, and if elected, Walker promises that he will work for the right kind of development of Standish. “I would encourage commercial development-small business-but not mega stores. Standish is a bedroom community, where people appreciate rural living.”
And as for property rights, Walker contends, “it is your land, and you should be able to profit from your land,” but “the issue of development is constantly battling with property rights,” and to strike a balance is very tricky with no definite solution. “There are tools that we can use, and that’s what I want to explore on the Planning Board.”
Walker says the opportunity to see physical development in communities across the world was a great experience he wishes to bring to the job.
“I’ve always been interested in social development,” he says. “I find it interesting how communities react to their environment.” He also says that much experience has been gained having lived in Burlington, Vt., a city in which there are progressive development plans and public support for the utilization of open space. When a community is not overrun with high-density commercial and industrial centers, he argues, it maintains a more relaxed and less stressful atmosphere-the same type of “good neighbor” atmosphere Walker relishes in Standish and wants to preserve.
Peter Walker is running against Christopher Parkin for a three-year term on the Planning Board.
Christopher L. Parkin
A native of Maine, Christopher Parkin, 39, grew up in South Berwick. He lives in Standish with his wife, Sherri, and three children, Allie, Kelsey and Adam. Parkin graduated from Marshwood High School and the University of Southern Maine with a B.A. in Communications. He works for the Shaw’s distribution center in Wells.
Parkin has been on the Planning Board as of November, and since then he says his interest in the post has grown exponentially.
“I feel like I really got my feet wet… I have a better understanding of what forces are at work and I’m much more in the loop.” His concern, like his opponent, Peter Walker, is that of development.
“When I grew up in South Berwick,” Parkin says, “there were six or seven thousand people. By the time my parents moved out in 1989, there were 10,000 and growing. At that point it wasn’t even recognizable.”
A proponent of Standish’s Comprehensive Plan and its update, voted upon Tuesday, which is a mandatory guideline for development in Standish, Parkin said there are ways to control development without restricting property rights or deterring businesses for coming to Standish.
“There are new techniques using landscape and ordinance to control development without being heavy handed,” he said.
Parkin gives the example that there are ways to build commercial and residential centers by utilizing open space for the aesthetic and practical benefit of the town.
“No one’s saying you can’t build,” he said. “It’s just a guideline to build. There are smart ways to develop.” Looking back at the runaway development in his hometown, Parkin said that he does not want the same to happen to Standish. “Unchecked growth in Standish can really damage the quality of life,” he said.
When asked what experience he will bring to the job, Parkin says that in addition to his six months on the board, he will utilize his communications degree, “which gives me a head up,” he says, “especially with group dynamics.” Parkin also contends that what happened to his hometown of South Berwick is what makes him “observant of what can happen to a town” whose rural character is threatened.
Parkin also believes that this election is “really important for Standish. [Voters] should think about what kind of town they want.”
Budget Committee
At Large, 3 Years
There are three write-ins available for this post.
At Large, 2 Years
John M. Sargent is running uncontested for this post. There are two available write-in slots.
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