Three candidates, Willard Blanchard, John MacKinnon and Joe Prevost, are running for David Ennis’ seat as Town Councilor for the East District. Voters will have to choose between one of these three candidates.

John MacKinnon

John MacKinnon, 51, of 143 Haven Road is running for election as Windham Town Councilor for the East District.

MacKinnon, an independent environmental engineer, lives with his wife Kristi and their daughter who attends Windham Middle School. MacKinnon runs his own consulting business (Watershed Solutions) that works with organizations like the Maine Department of Transportation on ways to curb stormwater pollution. MacKinnon was nominated by the Windham Democratic Party as a candidate.

MacKinnon said he is running for council in order to have a role in how Windham is developed in the future. With the town having grown so quickly over the years, MacKinnon would like to see Windham “catch up to itself.”

“There is a part of (the population) that would like to keep it the way it was, but the reality is that Windham is a growing community with more demands on town services, on the land and on the lakes,” MacKinnon said. “I’m very concerned about how development is managed in the future, in terms of its human and environmental impact.”

MacKinnon’s top concerns for Windham are the creation of more community service programs and the follow-through of the comprehensive plan. If elected, MacKinnon says he would work to create more assistance services for the elderly and recreational projects oriented toward the youth like the Windham Skate Park.

In accordance with the comprehensive plan, the repair of municipal facilities, such as the Public Works building, would be a priority for MacKinnon. He would also push to create more “open space” in town (reserved land that would be free from development) so as to preserve Windham’s rural character.

In terms of future development, though MacKinnon is in favor of continuing to concentrate commercial growth in North Windham, he says that the town should be careful not to kill “the goose that laid the golden egg.” As the town continues to draw more business along the Route 302 throughway, MacKinnon says he would work to make sure that the design guidelines, set down by the comprehensive plan, were implemented so as to make the area more aesthetically pleasing.

“I don’t think it would be anti-business to lend a little character to the business area so that it reflects the Lakes Region,” MacKinnon said.

Willard Blanchard

Willard Blanchard, 64, of 125 Nash Road, is running for election as Windham Town Councilor for the East District.

Blanchard, a social worker at the Windham Correctional Center, lives with his wife Marcia. Blanchard is a former Physical Education teacher of Greely Junior High School. He has previously served on the council for six years (1998-2004).

Blanchard says the resignation of long-time councilors David Ennis and Thomas Bartell has prompted his decision to run again for Town Council. He believes their absence will leave the council without a proper “historian.”

“I’m running because two of the long-term councilors both decided to leave,” Blanchard said. “And so (after they leave) there will be no one with a 10-to-12-year history on the council.”

Blanchard is interested in the Village at Little Falls project at the old Keddy Mill. If elected, Blanchard hopes to work with the project to facilitate a “revitalization” of South Windham and ensure elderly housing is provided. Blanchard is also concerned about the potential Maine base closures and what effect they will have on the Windham community.

“With the base closings, there’s going to be a lot of side issues coming to towns like ours because it will be a big drop in income for the state,” Blanchard said.

If elected, Blanchard plans to deal with the problems of “congestion” caused by the rapid development of the commercial sector in North Windham. When asked what he would do to help direct growth in Windham, Blanchard suggested that business growth could be redirected to the eastern end of Route 302. This would alleviate the congestion posed by commercial growth in North Windham.

Joseph Prevost

Joseph Prevost, 30, of 24 Collinwood Circle, is running for election as Windham Town Councilor for the East District.

Prevost, a full-time student, lives with his wife Carrie and their two children. He is currently a junior at USM pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Prevost also served in the United States Army as a sergeant. Prevost was nominated by the Windham Republican Party as a candidate.

“I feel that I have a younger voice in the community,” Prevost said. “And (I) would better represent the population of Windham who are just beginning to raise their families, living paycheck to paycheck and just trying to make it in this day and age.”

Prevost’s top concerns for Windham are jobs, alleviating the tax burden and providing public transportation. If elected, Prevost would push for the creation of more “white collar” jobs in town and possibly the creation of an office building for medical professions so residents wouldn’t have to go elsewhere for their health needs.

As to taxation, Prevost believes that the tax problem results from a lack of affordable housing. Prevost says that the development of condominiums in Windham would diversify the tax base and take the burden off homeowners. Prevost would also like to see the instatement of a public bus system for those who commute to Portland and other towns for work. Bus fares could then provide revenue to be contributed to the town’s budget.

Prevost believes both his experience as a soldier and a private citizen has prepared him for the council.

“(As a former military officer), I know how to lead and I know how to get things done even if the goals seems inaccessible,” Prevost said. “As a student, father, husband and homeowner, I know that a hard work ethic can get anything done.”

When asked how he would help direct growth in Windham, Prevost said that Windham should learn from the examples of other towns and take time in order to make healthy decisions for the town. Prevost also said that Windham should shift its focus from “catering” to the tourism industry and concentrate instead on the needs of its residents.

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