On Tuesday, Nov. 2, as local residents go to the election polls, they will be selecting six names from a field of 13 candidates, who are seeking to be elected to a seat on the city of Caribou Charter Commission.
Charter Commission candidates include: Roy Alden, David E. Hansell, Sandra Huck, Wilfred Martin, Philip J. McDonough II, Maynard D. St. Peter and James P. Savage. Also Jason Shannon, Joan Theriault, Paul Theriault, Bryan Thompson, Scott Walker and Ronald Willey.
Maynard St. Peter, 73, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine At Presque Isle in behavioral sciences and is a Past Grand Knight of the Caribou Knights of Columbus. With a career in retail services, he has served on the Loring Reuse Committee and the Restoration Advisory Board as well as the Loring Development Authority.
St. Peter stated that the reason behind his campaign to earn a position on the Charter Commission was, “To have some input into the charter revision process.” He also stated that the most important issue facing the community was, ”To see that every registered voter in Caribou, who wishes to have their voices heard about what changes needs to be done to the Charter are heard and due consideration be given them.”
“My primary goal, if elected,” said St. Peter, “is to revise the Charter so that it best serves the majority of the registered voters of Caribou. I have always given my full effort in any job I have undertaken and promise to work hard to achieve a revised charter that will serve the citizens of Caribou into the future.”
Sandra Huck, a resident of Caribou since 1978, stated, “my children attended the Caribou school system and I was the chief bookkeeping person for five corporations over a period of more than 20 years. I served on the Caribou City Council for four years and have been a trustee of the Nylander Museum for several years and am a past exofficio.”
Huck stated, “It is not unreasonable to take a look at our current charter to ensure that it is flexible enough to address current issues and carry us through the next 40 years. Times change and certainly the dynamics of our community have changed in many ways since our charter was initially drafted. This document is and should be the blueprint for the operation of our city. It lays down the guidelines and rules. It should not serve the interests of any one individual or organization. It needs to have the flexibility to handle the needs of today, special circumstances that may arise tomorrow and the concerns of future generations. Just as the Constitution of our country has been flexible enough to chart the course for more than 200 years, so too can the charter for the city of Caribou.”
“Let us take a mature, educated, unemotional and thorough look at this document and truly ensure that it will well serve our entire community for future generations,” Huck added.
Paul Theriault, 64, spent seven years in farming, 26 years employed by farm equipment dealers and retired from the Maine Military Authority following eight years of service. He is co-owner of River’s Bend Mobil Home Park, with his wife Joan. He is currently serving on the Caribou Zoning Board of Appeals.
Theriault stated that he firmly believes that the Caribou Charter needs to be updated and sees taxes as the most important issue facing Caribou. “We need to decrease our mil rate instead of increasing it every year as has been the case,” he said.
The candidate sees his primary goal, if elected is, “To bring the charter up to modern-day standards to give more control to the Caribou voters. I was one of the five original petitioners who brought the city to the establishment of a charter commission and I will work hard to help modernize the charter.”
Theriault has been married to his wife Joan for 44 years and they have one daughter Denise.
Wilfred Martin, 75, has 50 years’ experience as a businessman in Caribou, and served as a member of the Caribou City Council for nine years. Martin stated that he decided to campaign for a seat on the Charter Commission because, “There is a need for change and an updated charter. The most important issues facing the community are the lack of accountability, run-a-way spending, and property taxes that are too high.”
Martin said his primary goal, if elected is to implement changes in the charter that would rein in city government spending and provide more accountability and transparency of programs and spending. Also the elimination of the possibilities of conflict of interest — citizens that derive their livelihood from the city coffers should not be on the city council.”
Roy Alden, 56, has held various leadership positions in his church and as an educator in the Caribou School Department. This is his first attempt at becoming an elected official.
Alden has worked as an educator for the past 32 years for the city of Caribou. During that time he ahs taught social studies at both the middle school and high school levels; directed the summer school program and served as the assistant athletic director. “My passion has been coaching,” Alden said, “I have successfully coached the track and cross country teams to various team and individual championships over the past 30 years.”
“I am extremely proud to be a citizen of Caribou. I am grateful for experiences and the opportunities that have been afforded my family by living in this community,” said Alden, “I feel it is essential that as we work to revise our current form of government we retain the aspects that make this community a special place to raise a family. It is my hope that I can offer a practical, common-sense approach to the process of review, revising and amending our current city charter.”
Alden continued, “Caribou has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. We are becoming more and more a bedroom community resulting in a limited tax base. The current economy is putting a tremendous strain on our community’s ability to provide the goods and services essential for Caribou to attract new business and grow. We must do everything we can do as a community to reverse that trend and make Caribou a town that is attractive to business and to raise a family.”
“The key to successful government is that it is responsible to the needs of the citizens it serves. The current charter is over 50 years old. As we evaluate the procedures established in 1967, we must make sure that they reflect the needs of a community whose demographics have changed dramatically. Yet, at the same time we must ensure that any changes we make must result in more effective government and a government that fairly represents all the citizens of Caribou.”
Phillip J. McDonough II, a graduate of Husson University in 1998 with a bachelors degree in business administration, served as a Caribou city councilor from 2005-07. Serving 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, employed for 11 years in the private sector and seven years in Federal Civil Service he is a member of the Caribou Planning Board (2008-present) and the Nylander Museum Board (2008-present).
McDonough stated, “During my time on the city council I read the city charter and felt that it needed to be updated and that it should be more transparent and understandable to all citizens. I also thought then, as I do now, that a Charter Commission should be established to review and revise the charter as necessary.”
“Now that the citizens of Caribou have voted to establish a Charter Commission, I would like to be a part of the process,” said McDonough. “I feel that my experience on the city council, the planning board and the Nylander Museum board have provided me with the background and knowledge to fill a position on the commission. I believe that the commission should be made up of a diverse selection of people so that there is a good representation of all walks of life involved in the process. I also feel that all the people who are serving on the Charter Commission need to be open-minded and allow participation and involvement from the citizens throughout the entire process. After all, “this is the constitution of ‘our’ city and ‘We the people’ means all of our people, not just a select few,” he said.
Jason Shannon, 28, employed in the farming industry for the past six to seven years, and a newcomer to the municipal political arena stated, “I was excited to be able to look over our charter and decide if it is outdated or still suits our needs.”
“Our community has many issues, just like any other community,” stated Shannon, “They are all important but if I had to pick one it would be our economic growth. If elected my primary goal is simply to decide if the charter still fits the needs of our community.”
“People should vote for me, “ said Shannon, “Because I’m a hard-working average guy just like most of our community and I can give an opinion from fresh, young eyes.”
Shannon is married to the former Katie Goughan.
James Savage, 52, an optometrist in Caribou for the past 26 years stated that he is pleased to offer his services to fellow citizens as a member of the Charter Commission. “I have experience working on similar boards having served on the Caribou Board of Education for two terms, the Nylander Museum Board, and am currently president of the State Board of Optometry. Getting things done in a group like this requires patience, listening skills and keeping the needs of one’s constituents foremost. I will bring these skills to the charter commission.”
“Caribou citizens should take pride in our high quality facilities such as the Performing Arts Center, our new tennis courts and the Wellness Center,” stated Savage. “These projects were built thanks to the organization and ingenuity of the people of Caribou. Similar innovation by city government and private citizens will help convince businesses and families to locate in Caribou,” he added, “our charter has given us the flexibility to allow these accomplishments.”
Savage also said he has reviewed the current charter and overall finds it a sound document but would like to see the board of education section updated to reflect the city’s representation in RSU39. “I would like to see the charter updated to reflect the changes in current technologies and the new RSU which governs our schools,” he stated .
The most important issue facing the Caribou community, according to the candidate, is “Caribou’s challenge to attract new families and convince them that it is a good place to live and work. It is important to continue to offer quality schools and keep our library and recreation facilities up to date.”
“My primary goal, if elected,” said Savage, “is to listen to all points of view and keep the best interests of the city of Caribou uppermost when making decision on the Charter Commission.”
Savage and his wife, Frances recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They are the parents of three children Katie, Patrick and Christine, all graduates of Caribou High School.
Joan Theriault, 63, the current secretary of Citizens for Responsible City Management, has been a property and casualty insurance agent for more than 40 years and is co-owner with her husband, Paul, of River’s Bend Mobile Home Park in Caribou.
Theriault stated she decided to run for a seat on the Charter Commission because “Caribou is certainly not the same town it was back in 1967 when the charter was first introduced. I think the charter needs to be brought into the 21st century to meet the changes we have seen take place within our community.”
The most important issue facing the community, according to Theriualt is taxes, “That and the lack of growth, especially commercial growth, within our community.” If elected Theriault stated, “I think there are things that need to be ‘firmed up,’ or spelled out in the charter to make it clearer to city administration how to handle certain issues that come up. For instance, I don’t believe the mayor should be voting unless there is a tie. I don’t agree with the way the council filled a vacancy that came up a few years ago. I think the budget should be voted on by the citizens of Caribou, just like we vote on the school budget. These are just three examples of many issues and if the handling of these issues and others is clearly spelled out in the charter, then there will never be a question as to how our city manager and elected official should perform their duties.”
“I have worked hard within Citizens for Responsible City Management,” said the candidate, “to bring a more transparent and fiscally responsible government to Caribou and if elected to the charter commission, I will continue to work hard to bring our charter in line with the needs of Caribou today and give the power back to the people.”
Theriault and her husband Paul have been married for 44 years and have one daughter, Denise.
David E. Hansell, 68, has worked in the maintenance and packaging department at various potato processing companies in the Caribou area. He is chairperson of the Lions Senior Bingo and Cribbage Clubs, Unit Commissioner of Boy Scouts of America and is chairperson of the Caribou Democratic Party.
Hansell stated he was seeking election to the Charter Commission because he would like to see changes in the current charter. “I would like to see the language in the present charter changed to meet the people’s needs, not the government’s needs.”
“I am trustworthy and dependable and my primary goal, if elected, is to try to create jobs so our children and grandchildren can return to their roots.”
Ron Willey, 58, stated, “I have never held an elective office but did serve for nine years on the Nylander Board of Trustees. I have been a social studies teacher in Caribou for the past 35 years, most of those years as department head. I have been kept active in my profession, my church and raising four children as well as now helping to raise three grandchildren.
“I am interested in serving on the charter commission because I think I can be helpful to that purpose. I care about our city; its past and future,” said Willey. “My educational training includes work in American history and government, which should support the work of this commission,” he added.
The candidate also stated, “There are many issues facing Caribou that concern all good citizens but my focus will be the City Charter. The voters asked for a credible review of the document and that’s what we need to do. I would expect the commission would take a good look at areas of the charter that may need revision and updating.” “ There may be a need to include new language providing for procedures not now covered in the charter as written,” said Willey. “Any plan for government should be reviewed periodically. The review should be conducted with objectivity and without an agenda,” he added.
“My goal in doing this work,” continued Willey, “is to be as helpful as I can. My background should help me to serve effectively and work for a document the voters will support and one that reflects the democratic principles of our city, state and nation.”
Willey also commented, “I would hope the voters of Caribou would view me as an open-minded, fair and practical choice for this work. We have good city government now but there may be an opportunity to make city government even more effective. I view this as an opportunity to serve the community.”
Scott Walker, 49, is a former member of the Caribou Board of Education (1996-2002); past chairman/ current treasurer of Aroostook Ducks Unlimited and a member of the supervisory committee at the County Federal Credit Union.
A Caribou business owner and operator since 1986, he has had a hand in a variety of businesses including Caribou R.V.; Sam’s North Road; Sam’s Main Street Market and Walker and Walker, Inc. “I chose to run for this position because of its importance to our community,” Walker stated.
“My primary goal if elected, will be to approach any proposed changes carefully and with an open mind. Our city charter defines how our community is governed,” stated Walker. “ If today’s business climate and social activities demand any changes to the charter then these changes must be examined carefully and completely,” he added.
“I feel the folks in this community can feel comfortably that a vote for me will be a vote where there is no political axe to grind and that I have no personal or business agenda to fulfill.”
Bryan Thompson, 29, is a 2003 graduate of the University of Maine at Presque Isle where he earned a bachelors degree in accounting and business management and a minor in management information systems. He is currently completing the final year of a master’s degree from Husson University.
A recipient of UMPI’s Young Alumni Award in 2006, he is now in his ninth year of employment at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). He and his wife Melissa, have two children, Sydney, 9, and Landon, 6.
Thompson stated, “As an individual, who has decided to raise my family in Caribou, I would like to have the opportunity to be involved in the beginning stages of evaluating the city’s Charter and provide recommendations to make the Charter relevant in today’s society.”
The candidate also said he feels the most important issue facing the community is, “being able to provide the best possible education for our children and providing opportunities for our youth to remain in the area and raise their families.”
“My primary goal, if elected,” said Thompson, “would be to work constructively with a group of diverse individuals to reach a common goal; providing recommendations regarding revision of the Charter to be adaptable with the current environment we live in.”
“I genuinely want to make a difference for the city of Caribou. I have grown up here and I know what Caribou has to offer. Caribou is full of potential and I would like the opportunity to be involved in improving how our city is run,” said Thompson. “I look forward to an opportunity to examine the city charter as a young, independent voice.”
