About the Candidate
Former small business owner (R.A. Murphy Chimney Sweep, 1996-2014), retired Maine Whitewater Guide (Crabapple Whitewater, 2005-09)
Education
Madison High School graduate (1997), Briggs & Stratton certified small engine mechanic (1995), certified chimney sweep (2000), Maine state firefighter certification (2005), Maine whitewater guide license (2005), Kennebec Valley Community College EMT Basic (2006), Maine master plumber license (2016)
Previous campaigns and elected office(s) held
None
Top three priorities
1. Provide a safe, secure, and equitable future for all of our children, grandchildren and future generations of loved ones.
2. Create ample awareness to get all residents mentally and/or physically involved in community matters.
3. Explore new avenues to reduce costs of living and taxes by introducing new revenue streams (promote and support local business, cut useless spending, etc.). All three of these priorities coincide.
Why are you running?
I attended my first public meeting last summer and realized two undeniable facts: A) Nobody from the public shows up to most public meetings; and B) The majority of the public is moderately to mostly clueless as to what goes on during public meetings that directly affect the safety and well-being of the public. Every time I ask a question at a public meeting, I walk away with more questions than answers.
What is the biggest challenge facing your community? The biggest opportunity?
The biggest challenge is the Acadia methadone clinic that has stepped and clawed its way over a very weak ordinance in order to open another location at our business park, directly adjacent to our high school property. The biggest opportunity is to utilize strong, intelligent people in our community, with the aid of our boards, to create provisions and establish ordinances/amendments that can restrict homelessness, squatting, trespassing, illegal drug activity, and more in the immediate future.
If you could change one thing about how your community functions, what would it be and why?
Our power hierarchy in Madison, as well as other communities, has been flipped on its head in recent decades. In our case, we had developed a cancerous society with board members/managers on top and our citizens on bottom. This is unacceptable. The process is already underway by myself and others to reverse this madness. We are reinstating an old Constitution where We The People are in charge, with our Select Board working for us at the direction of our town manager, who is our third in command.
Do you support more development in your community? Why or why not?
As a licensed career construction professional, I absolutely support growth in the form of residence and business building. Not only is this growth inevitable and futile to oppose, it is also crucial for community expansion. Land development in our area is the ultimate way to lower taxes and cost burdens on all of us. On the other hand, as an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman, it is equally critical to me to secure natural rural landscapes.