In 2012, State Representative Charlie Priest suggested I apply to the Sewer Board that he chairs. We’d served on Brunswick’s Council for several years, and he knew my environmental policy background. I was appointed by the Brunswick Town Council fora3yearterm.I’ve been happy to serve as Vice Chair since then, with a professional, thoughtful Board and the District’s first-rate staff.

I announced I was running for now-outgoing Representative Priest’s Legislative seat in September, 2013. My husband, Steve Walker, won an unopposed seat to the Town Council November, 2013, with the swearing-in set for January 6, 2014. Then, at its final meeting on December 16, the 2013 Town Council adopted a conflict of interest policy, drafted by its Appointments subcommittee. Oddly, the policy prohibits spouses of Town Councilors from serving on either the Sewer or Water Boards, although these are quasi-municipal entities which do not report to the Council.

Immediately, on December 19, 2013, I told the Board I would resign, effective the day my husband was sworn in. The Board sought clarification from the Council, asking whether the policy was intended to be retroactive to current members.

This issue was fully and publicly discussed in televised meetings by both the Sewer District Board and the Town Council in January, where the Board was told it did not apply retroactively. I was told to complete my term. The Council also indicated that it wanted to revisit the policy. I agreed to continue to serve during the Council’s review.

Now, just weeks from the June 10th primary, the Chair of the GOP for Brunswick has twice publicly questioned my service on the Sewer Board. In an interesting series of coincidences, Jonathan Crimmins noticed the conflicts policy, checked the membership of the Council and the membership of the Board. He also happened to be accompanied by a radio reporter who happened to stay just long enough to record this particular public comment, generating a “news” story. Rep. Priest and I filled Crimmins in on the history. At the next Council meeting, he again said I serve in conflict.

I do not want and have not asked to be any kind of exception to any rule. I have patiently waited for the Council to either affirm or modify its policy. If the Council affirmed, I intended to resign, as I do not want to be a “grandfathered” conflict of interest. But, five months later, the policy remains unchanged. This policy is now being used to cast me in a negative light during this unfortunately heated primary, and seems likely to politicize the work of the Board itself at a critical time.

Until now, I’ve not stepped down because my work on the Board matters. I’ve worked hard with our thoughtful Board and District staff to develop a long range strategic plan, question outdated District policies, and completely revise the way the District seeks new customers and expands our lines to serve more of Brunswick. I can’t take credit for much, and as in any policy-making position, accomplishments are about successful collaboration, not individual credit. The Board and staff have truly been wonderful colleagues, and I’m confident that the ideas we’ve collaborated on will bear fruit.

With regret, I have given Representative Priest my resignation, effective immediately. If the Council policy changes, I would be honored to serve again, and help finish the important work we’ve started.

JACKIE SARTORIS is a Candidate for House District 50. She is also a former Town Councilor, District 2, and now a former Trustee, Brunswick Sewer District Board. She lives in Brunswick.