LIMESTONE — Community members will take to the polls on Tuesday, Oct. 23 to decide which two new faces will serve the town on the Limestone Board of Selectpeople.
There are six candidates running for two vacated seats.
Four candidates are running for the term expiring in June of 2013; they are Melissa Devoe, Marilyn King, Wendell Ricker and William Tucker.
Running for the term that expires in June, 2014 are Tom Albert and Reed Nonken.
Each candidate, listed alphabetically, was given the same questionnaire; their replies are as follows.
Running for the term expiring in June, 2014
Full name and age: Thomas Albert, 51
Political Party: Democrat
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors, titles have you earned?
What is your career background? Currently employed as a logistic supply manager at the Maine Military Authority. Other positions that I have held were: air traffic controller and aerospace ground equipment mechanic for 17 years in the U.S. Air Force.
What made you decide to run for this office? As a life-long resident of Limestone I have seen the town of Limestone in all phases, from a booming economic mainstay, to a town that struggles to maintain its identity. With all the bad publicity that Limestone has had with the last several months, it only helps my decision to run for selectman. I believe that with my knowledge and expertise from my lifetime of experiences, I can help to bring Limestone back to that town where we can hold our heads up high and be proud that we are from Limestone. Our jobs as selectmen aren’t to micro-manage all town departments, but to ensure that all departments have strong professional managers, with clear defined instructions and then ensure that a healthy working relationship is maintained with everyone working toward common goals.
What do you see as your primary goal if elected? My first goal would be to listen to the voices of those we represent in Limestone and without bias present the concerns to the board of selectmen for Limestone. I would come to the table with suggestions and solutions to concerns with obtainable goals. I am a firm believer in letting managers manage. My second goal would be to help the department heads manage their respective departments better.
My third goal would be to set strategic economic goals, both long- and short-term for our town, and actively seek ways to obtain those goals and make Limestone a better community overall. We need to bring back industry and business to our little community. By creating jobs and promoting economic growth within our town we can hold our children from wanting to leave Limestone. Our greatest asset is our youth, without a stable environment for our children in education we fail to keep the future of our town.
Full name and age: Reed Nonken, 43
Political Party: Registered Republican
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors, titles have you earned? I have not held any official political offices, however I have held the positions of senior managing director for multiple international companies; directly responsible for areas including: information technology, manufacturing, supply chain (distribution, purchasing, inventory) and customer service. I have had budgetary and managerial responsibility for multiple departments with annual budgets of up to $6 million and 135 employees. I have recently been elected to serve on the board of the Hope and Justice Project and have served as security director for the International Biathlon Union. I have a master’s degree in ethics form North Carolina State University and I am in the process of a second master’s degree in information technology. I am currently employed with the RSU 39 School System where I teach business and marketing as well as criminal justice. I work part-time as a Limestone Police Officer and a Maine State Judicial Marshal. I graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in 1991 and previously worked full-time with the Presque Isle Police Department.
What is your career background? I have quite a varied career background, having worked in both public and private arenas, union and non-union shops within domestic and international environments. I have traveled extensively in Europe and South America and have experience working with a variety of business types from bio-technology to human health to retail.
What made you decide to run for this office? My wife and I moved back to The County four years ago when we were blessed with the birth of our twin boys. We wanted to raise our children in an area that we believed provided a good foundation in strong work ethic, family and community values. The biggest reason I want to run for office in Limestone is to help restore the focus on developing a sustainable future of the town, our community and for those who will continue to make Limestone theirs for generations to come.
What do you see as your primary goal if elected? My primary goal if elected will be to refocus on the critical issues directly impacting the future of the town by developing a solid short- and long-term plan set on promoting good business development with community centered focus, through fiscally sound management and strict accountability. We have such a great resource with our citizens, our schools (LCS and MSSM) and our businesses (in-town as well as the Loring Commerce Centre), and we should be focusing on supporting and developing these rather than simply relying on micro-managing departments and utilizing budget cuts as the only means to balance the budget. Lastly, I believe that we must provide as many opportunities for our young people as possible — today and for the future.
Running for the term expiring in June, 2013
Full name and age: Melissa Devoe
Political Party:
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors, titles have you earned? Secretary of the National Association of Computerized Tax Processors: 2010-2011. Vice President — Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three Family Support Group: 1998/1999.
What is your career background? I develop forms for a computerized tax program. I formerly worked at ATX in Caribou but now work for an Illinois-based company from my home.
What made you decide to run for this office? I felt that my generation needed a voice on our town board. I also want to do everything I can to ensure that our taxes in Limestone remain as low as possible.
What do you see as your primary goal if elected? To help find solutions to Limestone’s tax problems. To find a balance between services and increased taxes. I also would like to work hard to make sure programs for our youth are not cut unnecessarily.
Full name and age: Marilyn C. King
Political Party:
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors, titles have you earned?
Political offices held — none. Presently: second-term member, Limestone budget committee; chair of the Robert A. Frost Memorial Library Board of Trustees; co-chair of the Library Focus Committee (fund-raising committee), corresponding secretary of the Limestone-Caswell Historical Society; secretary of the Friends of the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge and active member of the Limestone United Methodist Church. Past activities: Woman’s Civic Club, 1966-96; Bicentennial Celebration, 1974-76; co-chair of Limestone 125th Anniversary Celebration, 1993-94; three terms on The County Federal Credit Union board of directors, last term ending in 2008. Honors: Limestone’s Citizen of the Year, 1993; Town Report dedicated to my husband, Bob, and I in 2008/2009.
What is your career background? Caribou Public Library director, 1993-96; Robert A. Frost Memorial Library librarian, 1980-93; Limestone Elementary School library aide, 1975-80; Damon School teacher’s aide, 1971-80; part-time bookkeeper for three small businesses, 1962-73; University of New Hampshire secretary, 1962-65; New Hampshire Council on World Affairs secretary, 1959-61; waitressed while attending McIntosh Business College; store clerk in my youth.
What made you decide to run for this office? The recent turmoil in our town has created a negative image of our small town. I believe one can disagree over an issue without being disagreeable. The issue itself should be the focus of our attention; not the personalities on either side of the matter at hand. I think it is time for residents of our town to step up to the plate and serve our community without personal agendas, biases or for personal gain. These are the reasons I am seeking the selectperson’s vacated seat that ends in June 2013.
What do you see as your primary goal if elected? My primary goal, if elected, is to look at the big picture as we look to our community’s needs in a non-biased manner. With that in mind, we must be aware that our economy is not what it was in decades past and we have to live within a reasonable tax base.
Full name and age: Wendell A. Ricker, age 71
Political Party: Independent
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors, titles have you earned? None.
What is your career background? Truck driver.
What made you decide to run for this office? Need new faces with new and fresh ideas and outlooks.
What do you see as your primary goal if elected? Work for the citizens of Limestone.
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WILLIAM TUCKER PHOTO UNAVAILABLE |
Full name and age: William L. Tucker, age 47
Political Party: Republican
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors, titles have you earned? I am currently a member of the bargaining unit for the union at Maine Military Authority, and have held this position for two years.
What is your career background? I have been employed by Maine Military Authority for the past eight years.
What made you decide to run for this office? The town of Limestone needs to grow and provide new business opportunities to thrive. We seem to be at a stalemate and I would like the opportunity bring new ideas to our town.
What do you see as your primary goal if elected? My primary goal is to find ways to keep our taxes down. A second goal is to create a strong program to give the youth in our town opportunities to grow as individuals.
