Freeport residents who vote in the elections on Nov. 3 will choose between two candidates for the three-year at-large seat on the Town Council, both with extensive experience in municipal government.
Incumbent Melanie Sachs, the Town Council chairwoman, is seeking a second term. Sachs has worked closely with Cumberland County officials on budgetary matters, and also helps the council collaborate with Regional School Unit 3 officials. Doreen M. Christ has been a city councilor in Lewiston, and now works in the inspections office for the city of Portland. She also is recording secretary in Monmouth.
There are no candidates on the ballot for the District 4 vacancy, but Jennifer Worthy is a write-in candidate. Worthy, seeking political office for the first time, is director of patient financial services at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. Worthy is also on the board of directors of the Wardtown Home Co-Op in North Freeport. Andy Wellen decided not to seek re-election for his District 4 seat.
Contested races for Regional School Unit 5 and the Freeport Sewer District give Freeport voters plenty of choices on Nov. 3.
Christ and Sachs each answered questions for the Tri-Town Weekly.
Doreen M. Christ
Age: 51
Occupation: Administrative office assistant to the Inspections Division, Planning & Urban Development, city of Portland; recording secretary town of Monmouth; part-time deli clerk, Shaw’s Freeport
Political experience: Lewiston city councilor, Ward 4, two terms; Finance Committee member; Taxi Appeals Board, city councilor representative.
Q: What are the top three issues for the Town Council to focus upon?
A: 1. Annual municipal and school budgets take priority, along with economic development.
2. Winter recreational activity; the coming of the Portland Metro Buses, Freeport energy initiatives.
3. Regional School Unit 5
Melanie Sachs
Age: 46
Occupation: Licensed clinical social worker and executive director of Freeport Community Services
Political experience: At-large member and chairwoman of the Freeport Town Council
Q: What are the top three issues for the Town Council to focus on?
A: 1. Solid fiscal management. In my tenure on the council, the municipal impact on the tax rate has resulted in less than a 3 percent increase each year due to the town side budget. Working together we have made enormous progress in cost containment, even when unavoidable costs such as shifts in state mandates or funding sources have been variable. I was elected as the vice chairwoman of the Municipal Finance Committee for the Cumberland County budget (which I served on the last few years) to advocate for greater accountability at the county level. Finding efficiencies (such as combining municipal contracts for both cost savings and better management of resources) and thoroughly vetting issues and expenditures have been hallmarks my council service.
2. Continued transparency in decision-making. When I was running for my first term, one of the biggest concerns conveyed to me by residents was the need for greater transparency by the council around decision-making. While my colleagues on the council do refer to my love of data quite frequently, I believe in sharing as much information as possible, and having a clear path of reasoning for the decisions made. I now have residents, who even if they do not always agree with the decisions, tell me that they truly now appreciate the process.
3. Collaboration. In this past year as chair, I brought together the members of the (Regional School Unit 5) board and elected officials from the municipalities from Freeport, Pownal and Durham, to have a collective conversation about the issues and budget impacts of our respective areas. I invited our elected Cumberland County commissioner and the Cumberland County manager and finance director to the council to discuss issues that impact Freeport and our county. I met with our new RSU 5 superintendent a few weeks after he started and he has been invited to an upcoming council meeting. I work closely with department heads and town staff to resolve issues for residents, as well, and bring forth residents’ concerns, which is one if the best parts of this service. We have faced some big issues in the past few years here in Freeport, but I believe that continuing to work together to find solutions is very important.
Melanie Sachs
Doreen M. ChristSend questions/comments to the editors.
