Ten residents announce their candidacy for various boards. On June 13, North Yarmouth will choose new members for Budget Committee, Cemetery Commission, School Board, and Select Board.
Absentee ballots will be available from Townhall starting on May 15. Residents can call the Town Clerk to request a ballot, at (207) 829-3705. Application is available from the town website. In-person voting will be at Wescustogo Hall on June 13, with polls open 7 am - 8 pm.
The town will be hosting a Candidates Night, with moderated questions on May 31 at 6 pm.
NYFV contacted candidates to ask what motivated them to seek election and what skills and experience they would bring to the role. A "snapshot" of those responses follows.
Budget Committee (two 3-year term seats)
Three candidates to vie for two 3-year budget committee seats. Bill Young chose not to seek re-election.
Jeff Candura is the Director of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics Foundation. Volunteer experience includes previous Board member for Inland Woods and Trails, current Finance Committee member for the Maine Democratic Party, and serving as a youth soccer and t-ball coach. With over 20 years in non-profit fundraising and leadership, Candura says, “Budgets are more than numbers; they are a statement of our collective values.” The need for better guidance and oversight of North Yarmouth’s budget process motivated him to run. “I hope to work to help our town’s staff and elected officials present a budget that is responsible, reasonable, and serves our town well.” Previous professional experience includes “significant budget management.” He has a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado. He added his graduate studies placed a lot of emphasis on management in the public and nonprofit sectors, including development and oversight of governmental budgets. “I look forward to serving my fellow residents of North Yarmouth.”
Updated on May 4, 2023 to add candidate response.
Appointed to the Budget Committee in February 2022 to finish a partial term following Amy Page's resignation, John (Jay) Fulton is seeking re-election to a 3-year term. Fulton listed a Bachelor of Science in Business (E-Business, 2003), with experience developing software and managing the computer network for Verizon employees in New England. Fulton is proud all his family lives in North Yarmouth, with three grandchildren attending MSAD 51. Since retirement, his service to the community has included Communications Committee, Living Well in North Yarmouth, and the Solar Presentation Committee. In March 2022, he became a volunteer with the Prince Memorial Library Chess Club for Kids. Fulton says resident input should be part of the budget process, listing Public Safety and the Community Center as priorities. He supports the vision statement in the Comprehensive Plan. “I live in the Farm and Forest district, so I support its rural nature.” He added, “The vision of a walkable, more populated village center with a TIF makes sense.” Fulton says he “enthusiastically signed” North Yarmouth’s new code of conduct policy, citing the need for respect when ideas differ. “Policies are debatable; the need for basic respect in discourse is required.” Fulton also shared he completed MMA’s (Maine Municipality Association) Freedom of Access training.
Rich Parenteau says over 35 years working as an accounting professional gives him a "deep understanding of financial statements, budgets, planning and investments." Parenteau said he has worked in dealership accounting, manufacturing, and financial services. "I have held several leadership positions managing accounting staff as a Plant and Corporate Controller." Other experience includes Certified Financial Planner. As part of the budgeting process, he believes North Yarmouth should be looking further ahead, 5 to 10 years. “We cannot mortgage the future and let the budget snowball become so large that high property taxes drive out residents.” Parenteau explained, adding staff members or increasing debt service adds cost to future budgets. "We need to be cautious." For generations, the town operated without debt. The need to rebuild Wescustogo Hall changed that. For the next 15 years, Parenteau said, the town’s budget includes approximately $250,000 per year for debt service on $3.4 million. According to Parenteau, the Budget Committee should review any increase to debt for future impact. The town is considering a $1 million bond for a firetruck. A large bond for a new school is expected within the next two years. “These debts come with annual payments and interest costs that must be included in future year budgets.”
Cemetery Commission (two seats: 2-year term & 5-year term)
Leon Amergian is running to fill a partial term. Two years remain for one Cemetery Commission seat following departure of Nicholas Thibeault.
Amergian declined the request for a statement.
Incumbent Mark Heath is seeking re-election to a 5-year term. Heath has served on the Cemetery Commission for 15 years. With family ties to North Yarmouth extending back to early 1700s, Heath said his work with the commission is personal. Initially drawn to the position as a genealogy hobbyist, Heath listed numerous family members buried at Walnut Hill Cemetery, including 4th-greatgrandparents. The Town Clerk serves as Clerk of the Cemetery Commission and is responsible for much of the transactions associated with the cemeteries, but Heath said the Commission provides oversight, ensuring the town’s three cemeteries are properly maintained. Commission members meet bi-annually and conduct walk-arounds to look for damage. Keeping the properties tidy is important. Heath explained, stray or deteriorated placements can interfere with upkeep and are potentially dangerous when mowing. According to Heath, North Yarmouth is fortunate to have a low vandalism rate for town cemeteries.
School Board (one 3-year term seat)
Vanessa Bryant is not seeking re-election.
Tim Valenti is running to fill the 3-year term School Board seat. Valenti was narrowly defeated in 2022, by Leanne Candura. “While the loss stung,” said Valenti, “I took away incredible insights from our community and confidence that my message resonated with a high percentage of voters.” Valenti said he used the past year to engage with the community and attend meetings “to learn more about the issues we currently are facing and from those facing them.” Current co-chair of the SAD 51 equity committee, Valenti believes his experience in education would be an asset for the district. He shared concerns about continued challenges with the increasing enrollment impact on space and teacher retention, ensuring student safety, and supporting academic achievement. “For over a decade, I have been working with schools across the country to improve performance in the metrics that matter most for student success.” Serving on the school board is something he has considered for some time. “With my family's blessing, I’m ready to support our community by drawing on my experience and continually learning from others.”
Select Board (two 3-year term seats)
Four residents are running for two 3-year seats on the Select Board. Current board chair Brian Sites and board member Kate Perrin are not seeking re-election.
Wanting to serve the community prompted Karl Cyr to step up to run for Select Board. Cyr listed protecting town resources, maintaining school standards, and ensuring responsible development among his priorities. “I’m incredibly proud of our small town’s natural beauty, exemplary school system, and a strong sense of community.” Volunteering as a youth sports coach as well as at MSAD 51 has enabled him to connect “with many great people in the community.” Cyr says his family has lived in the Farm and Forest District since 2013, and shared he values North Yarmouth’s natural spaces. “For those I haven’t met yet, look for me out golfing at Toddy Brook or walking the trails at Chandler Brook and Old Town House Park!” Of the role of selectperson, Cyr says he “will bring a positive, equitable and reasoned approach.” According to Cyr, “We have a unique opportunity in front of us to adapt to the rapid change of the past few years while preserving the character and traditions that have made this such a great place to live.” He noted he respects “the energy and passion that our citizens bring to the process of town governance and will do my part to honor those contributions with my efforts.”
Current chair of Economic Development and Sustainability Committee, Katherine (Kit) Maloney, says community motivated her to run. “I am committed to putting our community first.” She says her work on EDSC gives her understanding of the importance of having a variety of resident input. Priorities include transparency and furthering North Yarmouth’s current development strategies. “I support ordinances that sustain the rural landscapes of the Farm and Forest District by focusing development in the Village Center.” Fostering the “walkability of a condensed village center,” Maloney says, helps local small businesses succeed. “I’m especially proud of the work the EDSC did to support the building design standards passed at an annual town meeting in 2021 which help protect the small-town Maine aesthetic of North Yarmouth.” A resident of the Village Center, Maloney says she values her access to the town’s parks and trails. For Maloney, bringing community together means appreciating diverse perspectives. “I believe that we agree on the issues far more than we disagree.” In addition to welcoming a wide variety of resident input, Maloney pledges “to focus on building collaborative and respectful relationships with my fellow board members.”
David Reed became the youngest person to serve on the North Yarmouth Select Board in 2021, when elected to finish the term of Paul Napolitano. Reed lost a bid to retain his seat in 2022. “Most people already know who I am, for better or worse.” Reed added he is a staunch supporter of due process and public’s input on town governance. “It is a fundamental right of all citizens to have a reasonable opportunity to participate in the decision-making.” He supports using the secret ballot Town Meeting to increase resident access to the process. Reed favors establishing a finance committee to address revenue projection variance, stating, “A number of poor revenue projections have hurt the town in previous budget cycles.” Other priorities include improving meeting efficiency and quality. Reed proposes making Robert’s Rules of Order the standard for all committees, allowing four-minute public comment, and moving to weekly meetings. This would “get business through more efficiently, and give people more opportunities to air their concerns.” According to Reed, the Select Board should be working more diligently to address PFAS and bolster groundwater protection. Reed sees the Community Center's revenue as underperforming compared to its operating costs, recommending further evaluation of Community Center role, revenue, and further cost sharing with Cumberland.
A commercial pilot as well as retired Navy Commander, Paul Whitmarsh taps into his training and experience to be an effective Planning Board Chair. Whitmarsh says he focuses on “following the rules” and believes this should be the standard for all boards. The Select Board's job is to provide oversight on running the town. "Yes, the Town Manager handles day-to-day operations, but clear direction should be coming from the Select Board." Whitmarsh wants budget, taxes, and long-range fiscal planning to be higher priorities and says officials should be listening to residents and public comment should be part of all meetings. “Right now, we have a very talented, good [Planning] Board, with diverse experience. They work really well together.” Making sure all members are heard is a priority. He sees the Planning Board as a model board for the town and says he expects board members to come to meetings prepared. “Equal time and weight need to be given to differing opinions. This can only happen if everyone on the board is an active member. I really try to ensure all members have a chance to speak.” Whitmarsh acknowledges there is strong disagreement on how things should be done. If elected, he says he will focus on ensuring the Select Board is supporting decisions that are the best for the town.
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