Presque Isle voters will elect three city councilors on Nov. 5 from a field of six candidates.
Incumbent Darick Williams and former councilor Mike Chasse are running for one three-year seat. The position was left open after James Carroll, elected last November, left the council in March. Williams won a special election to fill out the year.
Incumbent Craig Green, former councilor Don Gardner and newcomers Belen Doughterty and Meg Hegemann are vying for two four-year terms.
Presque Isle residents will vote from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sargent Family Community Center.
The Star-Herald invited the candidates to introduce themselves and share their views. We asked each the same questions. Here, in alphabetical order, are the six candidates and their responses.
Mike Chasse
Age: 35
Party Affiliation: Pro Presque Isle
Education: Bachelor of Science, electrical engineering
Employment: (left blank)
Family: (left blank)
Why are you running for city council? Because I think I can help and because I care deeply for this community. As a lifelong Presque Isle resident, I’ve always had a deep appreciation and concern for the health and viability of our community. This was only reinforced during my previous time as a city councilor and through this role I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the city and realized what an incredible difference a dedicated group of individuals can make.
This, at its very core, is why I’d like to run for city council again — to help make a positive and lasting difference for my community.
With all my passion for this community, I also have a pragmatic view of the dollars behind everything, and realize that the numbers must add up, that essential services must be maintained, and taxes kept at a level the citizens can live with. I think this along with the right capital investments into the community will have a long-term payback that brings back and keeps more families and businesses in this community, and in time makes Presque Isle a better place.
What are the top three priorities you wish to address if elected? Housing, important infrastructure projects, keeping taxes affordable.
If elected, I will take a levelheaded approach to balancing the needs of the community with what the citizens can afford along with what makes the most sense for the long-term economic health of Presque Isle. I will always keep an open mind and listen to the citizens and do my very best for Presque Isle.
Belen Dougherty
Age: 35
Party Affiliation: Independent
Education: Finishing bachelor’s degree at University of Maine at Presque Isle
Employment: Full-time student and mom
Family: Blended with three beautiful daughters
Why are you running for city council? As a vet and former army wife, I’ve had the opportunity to live in different cities across the U.S. but none of them felt like home. The city of Presque Isle has offered my family and me stability, community, and education — something I highly value. Our small city provides opportunities for community involvement through civic engagement or with nonprofits.
Three city council seats are available and I see this as the perfect time to give our voters more options. Right now, I can give back to the community that has given me so much. I’d be honored to represent our community members by using my experience in policy, research, professionalism, and as a mother raising my children here.
What are the top three priorities you wish to address if elected? The three priorities I wish to address if elected would be to first create strong relationships among our city departments in an effort to regain the trust of our community in the city council.
Secondly, I would like to approach every issue that comes through our office thinking of the people. It’s really important for me to learn from our community, and the professionals already doing the hard work. I think there is a misconception about the position of the city council. The truth is no one in those seats knows more about issues than those who are working directly in the community and I would like to be that bridge.
Lastly, I’d like to enhance the professionalism during the city council meetings, making sure the meetings are efficient to ensure that the community members who engage in these discussions feel seen and heard.
Donald J. Gardner
Age: 75
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Education: BS in education, University of Maine at Presque Isle; carpentry, Northern Maine Community College
Employment: Retired; 30 years in retail management, 15 years at Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Family: Married 51 years to Ethel Turner; 3 children, Courtney, Jamilynn, Ryan
Why are you running for city council? I believe that the current council has lost touch with the people of Presque Isle. It is time for new people with new ideas. I feel that with my 12 years’ experience on the council, I have the knowledge to do this.
I believe a councilor should be accessible to the public. We were elected to serve the people, not the other way around.
What are the top three priorities you wish to address if elected?
Taxes: There should be at least a one-year freeze on the mill rate. In this past year, some residents have seen a 40 percent increase in their taxes. This is unacceptable. There are other sources of funding that the city can apply for. Find grants and go after them.
Transparency: It seems that a whole lot of the council’s activity has been done in executive session. The process should be above board and in public. There are times when an executive session can be used but on a limited basis.
Term limits: There should be a two-year term limit on the council seats. Then the councilor would have to wait a year before running again. This would ensure that the councilor would not lose touch with the voters. Also I would recommend at least once a month the councilors would meet the voters at a neutral site.
Craig Green
Age: 53
Party Affiliation: Republican
Education: University of Maine Orono, bachelor of science in business
Employment: 30-year business owner in insurance and finance
Family: (left blank)
Why are you running for city council? My time on the city council has seen the endorsement of a full-time fire department and the addition of ambulance/emergency medical services. This has leveled the cost of this very important service to the citizens. We have joined with our four neighbors to create the Aroostook Waste Solutions, saving $350,000 from the budget annually. We have opened the new Rec Center, attracted multiple new businesses and created many new jobs.
The next 6 years will bring a new aerospace park building, a $40-million-plus airport terminal, the $50-million-plus bypass continuation, the $30-million-plus renovation of our downtown. In total our team has attracted these investments that no other community can touch that is 10,000 persons in Maine.
What are the top three priorities you wish to address if elected? My goals for the next 4 years are to attract more housing, continue to bring more business and to increase revenues to lower our tax burden.
We have a very special community with amazing people. We have more things happening and services than any City our size in Maine. With your support I will continue to work with our local team to bring more opportunities and to continue the work we are doing.
Meg Hegemann
Age: 53
Party Affiliation: City Council is nonpartisan
Education: Bachelor of science Dickinson College 1993, master of divinity Saint Paul School of Theology 2010, executive certificate in organization development consulting and change leadership from Georgetown University anticipated November 2024
Employment: Owner, Chickadee Facilitation, an Organization Development consulting firm
Family: Brad and fur babies, Rudy and Frank
Why are you running for city council? Over the past few years, I have become increasingly aware of the impact local decisions have on people’s well-being. People in Presque Isle are passionate, resilient, creative and caring.
Together, we can build a creative, collaborative team of city staff, council and committees moving toward a healthy future for all. I am currently in a position to serve and would be honored to do so.
What are the top three priorities you wish to address if elected? Employers are finding it difficult to fully staff their businesses. People find it difficult to come to Presque Isle because of the scarcity of affordable housing. The same goes for childcare.
Increasing the workforce is a priority that requires us to think creatively about meeting these other fundamental needs: housing, childcare, eldercare, connectivity, transportation, community events and engagement. Many of these issues are interrelated.
We need to focus on making Presque Isle appealing and affordable in all of the areas people want and need. We have much to offer. Building on our strengths and working together, we can grow in sustainable ways.
Darick Williams
Age: 38
Party Affiliation: (left blank)
Education: BA in business administration/accounting
Employment: Self-employed
Family: Married with 4 kids
Why are you running for city council? I am running for city council to make a meaningful impact on our community and improve the quality of life for citizens. Throughout my time in Presque Isle, I have witnessed both the strengths and challenges of our city. I am passionate about leveraging my experience and skills to bring new ideas and initiatives that will benefit residents of all age groups while also ensuring that our younger generation remains local.
I believe in advocating for the interests of all community members and ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered in decision-making processes. Being a good city councilor is the ability to listen and engage with the community constructively no matter what their viewpoints are. It’s important to be respectful and have open dialogue with colleagues who hold different views than your own. Being respectful to everyone shows the public that you are working in their best interest, not just for your agenda or personal grievances against others.
Having the community’s trust and understanding make it easier to work together on the pressing issues facing the city.
What are the top three priorities you wish to address if elected? Advocating for increased transparency and community participation for decision-making. When residents feel disconnected from the policy-making process or when there is a lack of clarity about how decisions are made rumors start and confusion happens. Not everybody has Facebook to get the latest updates from the city. We need to implement ways of communicating this information to the public and residents.
Create a zero-based budget. We have a population of many who are elderly who cannot keep getting increased tax bills when their income doesn’t change. Continue aggressively pursuing state, federal, and private grant opportunities that align with our needs for infrastructure improvements, housing or public services.
Enact term limits of 2 consecutive 4-year terms then sit out 1 complete 4-year term before being eligible to run again. Having term limits can foster new ideas or perspectives, limiting long-term serving members to create the opportunity for a more diverse group and representation.
