This fall South Portland Mayor Linda Cohen faces a challenge from political newcomer Andrew Snyder for the District 4 council seat.
The Current asked each candidate the same series of questions and their responses follow:
Linda C. Cohen
Age: 60
Occupation: Assistant Vice President Branch Manager at Bangor Savings Bank
Political Experience: One term on City Council, most recently as mayor, also served on the Civil Service Commission and as a City Clerk for 22 years
Q: Why are you running for re-election to the South Portland City Council?
A: I am running so I can be part of the great projects we have started. Specifically, I want to see the public services facility come on line and I want to be part of the effort to bring renewable energy to more homes and municipal buildings in our city.
Q: What are the three biggest issues facing South Portland?
A: I think the biggest issue is finding a balance between our desire to be environmentally healthy and the need to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents, businesses and visitors.
South Portland, like the rest of the state, also has an aging population. As a huge number of our residents move into their 70s and 80s we will need to look at the services we provide to seniors.
In addition, in the next several years we will most likely be facing the decision to combine our middle schools.
Q: Do you support the city’s recent sustainability efforts? If so, why? If not, why not?
A: I do. South Portland is moving in the right direction and I’m proud to be part of that. We’ve been hearing about ecological issues since the ’60s. Why has it taken so long to get the message? We must proceed with great thought and deliberation to protect this beautiful city.
Andrew Snyder
Age: 55
Occupation: Real estate broker
Political experience: None
Q: Why are you running for a seat on the South Portland City Council?
A: South Portland is a great place to work and live. I appreciate that this is a city where neighbors still tend to know each other and, for the most part, we can agree on what is important.
But, South Portland has gone through many changes in the 25 years I have lived here and currently faces several challenges. I am confident that city staff is doing their best under the circumstances.
However, I believe that the council should work more closely with staff, particularly to identify the challenges and develop plans that address short-term problems and consider the long-term implications, as well.
I have more than 20 years of experience as an industrial chemist in Maine’s biotech industry. My industrial career taught me to create and evaluate budgets and to analyze processes and develop systems that improve efficiency.
In 15 years as a real estate broker, I have worked with the staff of several municipalities and have seen a variety of solutions to common problems.
I believe that my unique combination of industrial and real estate experience will be an asset to the council as we confront our current challenges and work to keep South Portland a safe, prosperous and hospitable city.
Q: What are the three biggest issues facing South Portland?
A: We are currently involved in litigation that is an assault on the right of municipalities to regulate land use in consideration of the greater good of its citizens.
Defense of the Clear Skies Ordinance, which bans the importation of tar sands oil, is important to protect the city from the consequences of an aging industry’s attempt to squeeze more profit for a few while endangering many. It is also important to assert the right of citizens to protect their environment, their health and their homes.
A great deal of the city infrastructure – public buildings, roads and parks – also require more maintenance and repairs. We will soon need to address our crumbling middle schools. City Hall is likewise standing on borrowed time. We need to develop a plan to address city infrastructure in a comprehensive way to assure that we repair, upgrade and build where needed while minimizing the debt incurred.
And, while property values and rents continue to increase, which is nice in the short-term, that means fewer and fewer people who work in South Portland can afford to live here.
More of our children are moving out of state to find better paying jobs. South Portland should have a role in promoting well-paying jobs in sustainable businesses.
Q: Do you support the city’s recent sustainability efforts? If so, why? If not, why not?
A: I support South Portland’s sustainability efforts including the recent ordinances regarding single use bags and the use of polystyrene foam.
While South Portland is only one small city in our country, it is important that we do what we can to reduce the amount of non-degradable and non-recyclable material going into our waste stream.
These ordinances also help to raise awareness of the need for all of us to be more conscious of the materials we use, both in terms of the energy that goes into creating them and what happens to them when we no longer need them.
South Portland’s installation of an electric car charging station at the Community Center, adding more electric vehicles to the city fleet and plans for solar power for the new public works building are also important steps toward a cleaner and healthier city.
The more cities and towns promote this kind of awareness, the better we will be able to sustain our environment.
Andrew Snyder
Linda CohenSend questions/comments to the editors.
