A long-time Gorham town councilor and family farm owner, incumbent Norman E. Justice Jr. is seeking another three-year term.
Justice, 54, is the facilities administrator for the Scarborough School Department. He owns and operates a farm on Wood Road that produces beef. Justice and his wife, Tody, have four children.
He has served on the town council for 15 years and is the council’s representative to the Greater Portland Council of Governments. He served several years on the executive committee of the Regional Waste Systems and was chairman 2001-2003.
“My message is experience,” said Justice, asking voters for their support.
Justice favors the asphalt plant and quarry proposed on Mosher Road. He said the site is zoned industrial and that opponents have exaggerated the impact.
“We have good ordinances in place to protect neighbors,” Justice said.
It would be an “efficient use of the land,” Justice said, and become a high-end industrial park, replacing the mining operation, which has a history at the site. He said clay had previously been mined there for the manufacture of bricks.
Justice voted in favor of ordinance amendments relating to quarries, and said businesses have a right to ask for ordinance changes.
He described himself as a “strong proponent” of economic development. He advocates quality development to increase the tax base instead of further burdening taxpayers.
Favoring, the preservation of farms and open space, Justice said many of the existing farms have gravel pits to augment farm income. He favored the transfer of development rights program, which the council enacted.
“It’s important to Gorham to maintain our character,” said Justice, who said Gorham still has substantial rural areas.
Phase 1 of the long-awaited Gorham bypass is under construction, and Justice would like to see additional phases to further address traffic problems. He’s optimistic that a turnpike spur could be three years away. There’s an overwhelming support for a toll highway to Gorham, Justice said.
Speaking about growth of the community, Justice said “its inevitable” that the town move toward more full-time firefighters. “We’re seeing less people volunteering,” said Justice, a former member of the department.
Justice voted in favor of the ordinance restricting where sex offenders could live in Gorham, but later opposed an amendment that would have regulated where they could work. “I think it’s more of a state issue,” said Justice, worrying about potential court rulings and communities making its own laws.
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