Michael Foley, 20, is the incumbent Democratic at-large city councilor. He is running for his second term against Republican incumbent John O’Hara and Democratic newcomer Phil Gagnon for one of two seats.

Foley works for the Kennebunk police dispatch and has his own business fixing computers. Before graduating from Westbrook High School and becoming a city councilor he was the student representative to the School Committee for two years.

Foley recently found himself at the center of a public dispute with Human Resources Director Tina Crellin, who filed for a protection from harassment order against him. Foley had been collecting what he referred to as “unsolicited” complaints about Crellin.

He said he believes he did the right thing in fielding complaints about her, though he admits to making one mistake of behavior when he “mocked” Crellin’s departure from a committee meeting.

Foley said he has been very close to many different departments in the city, and people felt they could trust him with their concerns about other employees of the city. He said he asked for guidance from City Administrator Jerre Bryant and City Solicitor Bill Dale on how to deal with the complaints appropriately and followed their advice.

Foley said that, in a way, he is glad he went through the ordeal as it has taught him how to deal with types of conflict and legal issues that he may not have been otherwise privy to.

In the debate over how to deal with the city’s trash and recycling, Foley said he is in favor paying for it through the tax base, rather than a fee, as the mayor has proposed in his pay-per-bag trash program. Foley believes paying for trash and recycling through the tax base allows businesses to absorb some of the cost.

Foley would like to consolidate municipal services at what will soon be the old Wescott Junior High School. Foley wants to seek out alternative funding for expanded swimming facilities and an ice rink and sees the ice rink as a potential for revenue.

Foley said whatever the details of the plans, the project will go out to vote and the people will decide if they want to put money into it or not.

Foley supported the adoption of a recent ordinance that restricted where sex offenders could live and work. He said he believes the ordinance was a good move on the city’s part and he expects more surrounding communities will follow.

“It’s heartbreaking to know some of the people that deal with those issues,” Foley said of victims of sex offenses.

Foley wants the quality and efficiency of the council to increase. He feels too many questions are asked at the council meetings that could have been answered beforehand. He said he makes sure he is up to date on all the issues so the merit of them can be discussed at the meetings.

Foley is unsure of what he wants to do in the future, but his goal is public service. In trying to understand how the city works, and what the city is budgeting for, Foley has spent time in nearly every department of the city, including an 18-hour shift with the fire department, during which he was thrown in an ice suit into the Presumpscot River in February. He also spent time riding along with police officers and public services employees as they plowed roads.