HOULTON, Maine — Four candidates are vying for two seats on the SAD 29 school board being vacated by Kim Thompson and Frances Grant on the November ballot. The candidates are Frederick Grant, Terrence Spurling, Darryl “Scott” White and Carl Lord. The following are the candidate’s answers to questions posed by the Houlton Pioneer Times. Similar profiles on those running for Houlton Town Council will appear in next week’s issue.
Full name: Frederick Gates Grant
Age: 41
Residence: Houlton
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors or titles have you earned? I am a current Houlton town councilor and I also served as president of the Houlton Rotary club in 2008-2009. Additionally, I serve as chairman of Families for Education, a parent group I started earlier this year to serve as a parent advocacy group within SAD 29.
What is your career background? I graduated from Houlton High School in 1988. After graduating from the University of Hartford in 1993 I worked for four years in the Office of Residential Life at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y. as a residence hall director and later as the Assistant Director of Residence Life. While there I earned my MBA. In 1997 I moved to the Boston area to work as the Associate Director of Campus Life at Babson College. I was later promoted to the Director of Campus Life and I left my position in 2005 to run my company, CollegeHelpers.com, full-time. I continue to run CollegeHelpers.com here in Houlton and am launching a new online business, HighSchoolHelpers.com, which will help anyone who has earned or is currently earning a high school diploma find employment opportunities.
What made you decide to run for this office? I have been an actively involved parent within the district since my return to Houlton in 2005. As a Town Council member I have seen the challenges our community and district have faced over the past year as it relates to education. Our school board plays an instrumental role in the success of our students and community and I believe I have the necessary skills to help the board. I am passionate about education and have dedicated most my life to helping students, of all ages, succeed in reaching their ambitions both through my work in higher education and through my businesses. Our students, district and community need support and I want to help.
What do you see as the most important issue facing the community you will serve? I see the most significant issue being the success of our children. The students in our community are being prepared for their future and the quality of their education and their success within the classroom are what will determine the breadth and depth of their future options. Additionally, the future success of our community will be determined by the quality of the citizens we produce today.
What do you see as your primary goal, if elected? My primary goal will be to focus not just on our educational system, but our entire community on the success of our students. It is not enough for us to expect that our educators should bare the full responsibility of student development. The success of our students must incorporate active participation of parents, students, teachers, administrators, businesses and community members.
Why should people vote for you? I believe I have the passion, the skills and knowledge necessary to help our students, district, board and community succeed.
Full name: Carl W. Lord Jr.
Age: 56
Residence: Houlton
What position are you running for? SAD 29 school board?
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors or titles have you earned? Houlton Town Councilor for three years; Board of Budget Review for eight years; Zoning Board of Appeals for two years; Houlton Road Committee for six years; Southern Aroostook Development Corporation for six years; and S.D.C. for three years.
What is your career background? I was employed for the past 28 years as a boiler/dryer operator for Louisiana Pacific. I am now unemployed and semi-retired, taking a developmental associate course with N.M.T.C.
What made you decide to run for this office? I believe our school board is in need of help in mainly two areas — communication and spending. Communication to the taxpayers on just what the school board is doing; taking away that black cloud that I believe is hanging over the board. Also, the school board has got to put spending as one of the top items to look at, and to do it without any affect to the education of our children. I believe both can be accomplished.
What do you see as the most important issue facing the community you will serve? Taxes. As we all know the federal and state governments are in the red as most of our country is. Houlton should continue to slow down the spending. The school board is a big part of this spending. I believe the school board, working together, could and should reduce spending, again, without any impact to our children. If elected I will put my hand forward to accomplish these goals.
What do you see as your primary goal, if elected? I will communicate to the people of SAD 29 and encourage our local newspapers to report it. I will take the time to look over the SAD 29 budget and share my thoughts with the school board on both.
Why should people vote for you? I want your vote to change the way the school board things in the areas of finance and communication. I believe if the people of SAD 29 want this to happen, they should vote for me.
Full name: Terrence Xavier Spurling
Age: 72
Residence: Houlton
What position are you running for? SAD 29 School board?
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors or titles have you earned? None
What is your career background? I was a high school teacher for 36 years.
What made you decide to run for this office? I have grandchildren attending school in SAD 29. I am concerned with budget cuts and the effect those cuts can have on the quality of education in our district.
What do you see as the most important issue facing the community you will serve? Making sure that our students get the very best education regardless of fiscal restraints.
What do you see as your primary goal, if elected? To be a good listener and represent the voters of SAD 29.
Why should people vote for you? I believe I can be an effective school board member.
Full name: Darryl “Scott” White
Age: 41
Residence: Houlton
What position are you running for? SAD 29 school board?
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors or titles have you earned? Since the first of July, I have been the president of the Houlton Rotary Club.
What is your career background? I have worked in the Houlton area for over 20 years in the automotive field. The first six years in Autobody, the last 14 as the co-owner of Aroostook Auto Glass with my wife Pam.
What made you decide to run for this office? I have four daughters and want to be a part of the decisions that will affect their education.
What do you see as the most important issue facing the community you will serve? Rising costs in our district and outside influences on our schools.
What do you see as your primary goal, if elected? My goal is to do what is best for the students as well as the taxpayers.
Why should people vote for you? I believe myself to be a fair judge of situations, can offer creative ideas when problems arise, and I am not afraid to speak up when needed. Above all, I will do the right for our kids, and our taxpayers.
