Election letters

To the editor,

I believe a new day could be dawning for the select board of Kennebunk. I am supporting candidate John Costin because he truly advocates for town government transparency, public access and the rights of the underserved.

His passion to identify governing missteps and ceaselessly strive for fairness has been demonstrated time and time again as he served on the town Budget Board, actively worked on the town charter and courageously stood up to select board members and town managers who have often responded defensively and disrespectfully. He knows how the town works – and how it doesn’t.

Without question, John speaks out for accountability, change and inclusion. Please vote for him for select board on June 8.

Susan A. Bloomfield

West Kennebunk

To the editor,

I am happy to support Lisa Joy Pratt in her bid for Kennebunk Select Board. Kennebunk would benefit greatly in having a woman, and mother, serve on the select board – one who understands the needs of families in our community.

Lisa is the parent of two children in the RSU 21 school system, and a committed community volunteer. She is on the Kennebunk Energy Efficiency Committee, Kennebunk Elementary School PTA and I’ve had the pleasure of serving with her on the Kennebunk Inclusive Playground Project. Lisa is dedicated to making play accessible to all children in our community, and to making municipal facilities, including our beaches and parks, safe and accessible for individuals of all ages.

Reducing Kennebunk’s carbon footprint is also a priority for Lisa. She’s recently been involved in replacing the “No Idling” signs around our schools, as most of the signs have faded or disappeared. Idling near schools adds harmful toxins into the air, potentially exacerbating serious health concerns for children, including asthma.

Lisa has worked in healthcare for many years, and recently volunteered at the York County COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic. She has a deep understanding of people’s most important needs, and how to listen to them and care for them.

We need to continue to attract families to live, work and play in Kennebunk so that our community remains dynamic. Lisa Joy Pratt is the leader we need on the Kennebunk Select Board to ensure that the needs of families are a top priority.

Anush Hansen

Kennebunk

To the editor,

We have known Peter Sentner for a number of years through South Congregational Church, where he has been an active member. We have each served with Peter on committees at the church, and have great respect for his commitment and intellect.

Peter is open-minded and thorough in gathering information to make reasoned decisions. We have found his insightful questions to be an important contribution to the committees. His conscientious approach makes Peter a valuable committee member.

Being a productive part of a group – whether a church committee or a school board – requires collaboration. Peter’s careful and measured way of evaluating differing viewpoints and his strong listening skills are particular strengths. His collaborative approach would be particularly helpful as the RSU 21 School Board continues its critical and sensitive work on issues of diversity.

Peter can be counted on to step forward to help where he believes he can contribute to the wider community. His decision to run for the RSU 21 School Board is another evidence of this. As fellow residents of Kennebunk, we feel fortunate to have Peter as a candidate. He has our enthusiastic support, and we encourage you to vote for him in the upcoming election.

Ralph and Suzanne Austin

Kennebunk

To the editor,

We have an RSU 21 School Board seat open in Kennebunkport, and my neighbor and friend Megan Michaud is running. She is brilliant. A great listener. A strong analytical thinker. A tireless advocate for our schools. She understands the importance of fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging for all students.

Having served with Megan on the district’s Balancing Enrollment Task Force, I have seen her in action. She brings people together, identifies creative solutions, and pursues consensus. She knows our district and our schools well already, and will hit the ground running.

Megan understands the role of the board in doing its main job – hiring, supporting, and evaluating the superintendent to assure that our district is run well – along with its role in writing clear policies in line with the law to ground that mission.

I encourage you to join me in voting for (Joyce) Megan Michaud. Ballots are available at town hall now for the June 8 election.

Traci Gere
Kennebunkport

To the editor,

Please join me in voting for Lisa Joy Pratt for Kennebunk Select Board. As a fellow healthcare worker, I know the passion and dedication that her professional life required. She was always a tireless advocate for patients as well as their families.

After having children and becoming a stay-at-home parent, Lisa has committed to giving back to the community. She jumped right into becoming a member of the PTA and fundraising for the Kennebunk Inclusive Playground Project. She is also a member of Kennebunk’s Energy Efficiency Committee.

As a community volunteer, Lisa has reached out to many individuals and families in our town to hear their concerns. I believe Lisa would be a compassionate member of the select board and offer thoughtful and creative solutions for residents as Kennebunk continues to thrive. I am confident in Lisa’s abilities to lead our community and I support Lisa Joy Pratt fully in her run for Kennebunk Select Board.

Sara Hicks

Kennebunk

To the editor,

Do you enjoy living in the safest town in the state of Maine? Do you believe our children are bonding in a positive and healthy way with our school resource officers and paving the way for more peaceful and positive future? If the answer is yes – then I suggest you think long and hard about your vote for select board on June 8.

One candidate has been repeatedly vocal and taken action to eliminate our school resource officer team at RSU 21. His name is John Costin. Costin serves on the town’s budget board and has for 13 years. As a leader of this board, Costin has made numerous attempts to defund (eliminate) the heartily supported SRO program at RSU 21.

At the recent school budget validation meeting, the Costin family was present and voiced the same worn message – eliminate SROs in our schools. Their message failed unanimously.

As a former police officer and former member (and chair) of the Kennebunk Select Board, I can attest to the positive outcome that solid and healthy relationships between police and youth create. John Costin wants to end the positive relationships, wants to eliminate the physical and visible element of safety and security at our schools. – wants to defund and eliminate SROs in our schools.

Your vote can prevent such a misdeed. I strongly suggest not voting for Costin for select board member on June 8. Keep our town and kids the safest in Maine.

Richard Morin

Kennebunk

To the editor,

Please join us in supporting Peter Sentner in his campaign to become a member of the RSU 21 School Board.

We have known Peter for 12 years through our church and through our children. We have observed him participating in many service projects and providing his talents on several committees. We feel he would bring a great amount of knowledge and wisdom to the school board as a member.

Peter has lived in Kennebunk for 36 years. He has a strong tie to the Kennebunk school system as he had his children, and currently his grandchildren attend school in the RSU 21 district. He currently volunteers on a policy committee for the school board. Additionally, he serves the DEI ad hoc committee as a member of the Family and Community team. He also participates on the Kennebunk region BIPOC History Project. He now desires to offer more of his time for the betterment of the school community by becoming a school board member.

As a retired mental health administrator in the field of social work, Peter has a wide range of assets that he would bring to the school board. He has tremendous experience in policy development, budget management, risk management, human resource management, and contract management. Over his 45 year career he has been a team player, dedicating himself to the tasks at hand, and has demonstrated his ability to listen, provide support and foster growth, to all sides and work towards solutions that are best for all parties.

It is our feeling that Peter would add a great amount of knowledge and compassion if selected to serve on the school board. We hope that you will join us in supporting Peter Sentner as the thoughtful, dedicated, and experienced team member we have observed him to be.

Brian and Kathy Ewy

Kennebunk

To the editor,

I am writing in support of James McMann running for the RSU 21 School Board. James is a strong advocate for our school district’s students and teachers. He is heavily involved in our community through coaching and always remains positive when interacting with his athletes.

I feel that when making decisions, James will remain fair, open minded and do what is right by all involved. Please join me in supporting James McMann for the school board position in Kennebunkport.

Roger Souliere

Kennebunkport

To the editor,

Rarely are we offered a candidate as perfectly suited to the role of school board member as Megan Michaud. Megan has a demonstrated commitment to RSU 21 through her volunteer participation on three school board committees. I observed that commitment in action on two of them; she was a patient and active listener, a strong critical thinker, a fierce advocate for staff and students, and a solutions-focused contributor. On the Enrollment Committee, she worked diligently to balance the need to strengthen Consolidated School, while preserving the overall health of the district.

Megan’s professional background — in public service and non-profits working to improve lives through public policy change — enables her to understand both the opportunities and challenges inherent in public sector oversight. She has the temperament, open mind and dedication needed to be an effective and collaborative board member.

We don’t need school board elections to be about politics, ideology or agendas — and with Megan it won’t be. Instead we will get someone with a proven commitment to helping others, someone who will roll up her sleeves and do the hard thinking and the hard work. Someone who won’t presume to know all the answers, but will listen to all perspectives, weigh the competing options, and act with integrity.

When you speak to Megan, one is struck by her intelligence, calm demeanor, thoughtfulness, and determination to do what’s right. Kennebunkport could not ask for a better qualified candidate for school board. Please join me in voting for (Joyce) Megan Michaud.

Gaby Grekin

Kennebunkport

To the editor,

I write in support of Curtis Mildner, candidate for a five-year term on the KLPD board of directors. I’ll speak to Mildner’s extraordinary qualifications below, but first a word about his opponent’s qualifications or more accurately his lack of qualifications for this public utility board.

His opponent is a single-issue candidate – to save the dams and thereby save his river-front property. He doesn’t seem to realize, however, that the KLPD board saved the dams when it submitted an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requesting that the dams remain in place. The ball is now in FERC’s court. It will decide the future of Kesslen, Twine Mill and Dane Perkins. In short, the future of the dams is out of the hands of the KLPD board.

Here’s why I’m supporting Curt: He and his wife, a former school teacher, have lived in Kennebunk for 45 years; raised their sons here; and now Curt is willing to step up and assume the responsibilities which come with a five-year term on the KLPD board. Oh, and he doesn’t own river-front property. And, I really like the fact that he would bring to the board his business expertise and experience – an MBA; corporate management experience (Hussey Seating Company and VP at CMP for 11 years when it was a Maine owned company); and most importantly, his success as a small business owner.

Kennebunk Light and Power District is a nonprofit but it is a business and must continue to be run as an effective business if it is to provide excellent service to its customers at a reasonable rate. Having a trustee who is both a businessman who has worked in the electric utility field and a responsible environmentalist (BS/environmental science) is what the district needs to fulfill the district’s mission – “to provide the most reliable and [sustainable electrical] system at the lowest cost.”

Mildner is that person – a skilled and experienced businessman; invested in Kennebunk; who wants to share his expertise for the benefit of all of us.

Bob Wuerthner

Kennebunk

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