Lamoine voters have new choices for Selectmen when they go to the polls on March 8. Two newcomers as well as two incumbents will be on the ballot. You can vote for one or two candidates. Those who wish our town government to stay the course can re-elect Nate Mason and Bernie Johnson. Nate and Bernie can be watched in action in many town meetings just by clicking here and choosing the date of the meeting you’d like to see. The newcomers are Bob Christie and Dr. Kathleen Rybarz.
Bob Christie has been a Lamoine resident for over 30 years and raised his 3 daughters here. He is a U.S. Army veteran and is a long time tennis instructor and coach. He has served on Lamoine’s Board of Appeals, School Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee and currently, the Lamoine Comprehensive Plan Committee. Bob is currently involved with At Home Downeast, an organization which seeks to provide support to enable seniors to remain in their own homes. Bob hopes to bring his passion for housing and the natural beauty of Lamoine to the Selectman’s seat.
Bob believes that the Lamoine Board of Selectmen does not represent an accurate cross section of Lamoiners. He feels there is a bias in favor of those born here and against newcomers, new faces and new ideas. He believes that “sitting down” with people with different beliefs and backgrounds can result in common goals for all. Bob thinks as a Selectman, he can bring this ideal of consensus and inclusion to Lamoine.
Kathleen Rybarz has called Lamoine home for over 20 years. She is a Doctor of Pharmacy, with degrees from the University of Michigan. She has served as Pharmacy Director at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, has worked at many other Maine hospitals and is currently working as a remote (internet based) pharmacist for seven Maine hospitals. Over the years she has been a Girl Scout leader, Lamoine School Committee member, WERU radio host, president of Maine Association of Health Systems Pharmacists and lecturer at UMaine, Orono. She has one daughter currently in nursing school.
Kathleen has been attending town meetings of several boards and is troubled by how many members of these boards hold multiple positions. She would like to see the Selectmen try harder to get new people involved and to use their appointment power to this end. She also feels that for the past several years, Lamoine government has involved itself with gravel and little else. Kathleen does not feel that Lamoine’s gravel industry is contributing to the greater good of Lamoine as a place to live, and that Lamoine voters have spoken clearly on this issue.
Kathleen values Lamoine business and has compiled a directory of Lamoine businesses that she has given to the Lamoine Comprehensive Plan Committee. She feels the Board could work harder to serve a home-based business economy. She is also enthusiastic about conservation, pit restoration, trail development and wildlife corridors.
Lamoine’s election for Selectmen occurs on March 8 at Town Hall, and the Annual Town Meeting is on March 9 at the Lamoine School Gymnasium at 6 PM. Absentee voters can download this application and vote from anywhere if they are registered in Lamoine. The specimen ballot appears below. Unfortunately, the absentee application fails to provide the mailing address of Lamoine Town Hall. It is: 606 Douglas Highway, Lamoine, ME 04605. The application can also be scanned and sent as an email attachment or faxed to (207) 664-2755.
