Jody Thomas said people cannot affect change in their community unless they become a part of its political process, which is why she is seeking one of two Gorham Town Council seats.

“You can’t complain about what’s going on in your town if you’re not a part of what’s going on,” she said. “I really love the town, and I’ve enjoyed a lot of good relationships with the people in the town while I was a police officer, so I thought it would be something nice for me to do by spending quality time doing something that may improve the town.”

Thomas, 55, is married with two children and has lived in Gorham for 18 years. She is the former Buxton police chief and currently works as a part-time police officer for the Scarborough Police Department. She received an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Southern Maine Community College.

She said she is concerned with the nation and state’s declining economy and how that could negatively impact Gorham. If elected, she would help develop policies that would protect Gorham’s economy, such as keeping taxes low.

“I am concerned for businesses in the community in these uncertain economic times,” Thomas said. “I think we need to shore up the local economy to prepare for what might come down the road.”

Thomas said lowering the tax burden is vital for keeping businesses in town and attracting more businesses to boost the local economy.

“You start to see by visiting with these businesses that they are being forced to lay workers off,” she said. “They are trying to do more with less and I’d like to see us try to stabilize these businesses that need our help, and this can be done locally.”

She said she is also concerned with the rising cost of energy. She wants to help Gorham continue exploring alternative forms of Green energy.

“We need to tap into any alternative sources of energy that we can,” she said. “I think the community has the resources where we have the ability to do it.”

Jody Thomas