SACO — On Nov. 7, voters head to the polling place. In Saco, residents in four of the city’s wards will have a choice to make on who should represent them on the City Council. All other council seats are uncontested.

WARD ONE

Marshall Archer, 35, is a doctoral student, landlord, job coach for individuals with developmental disabilities and a university facilitator.

If elected, Archer said , he would use the many relationships he has developed with community nonprofits, city officials and the citizens of Saco to benefit the city and its residents.

Archer said he believes in the process of democracy and was called to serve his country from an early age. He said if elected, he’ll do everything in his power to improve the quality of life for Saco’s citizens. 

“In my four years of service in the Marine Corps, the presiding officer of several Veterans Service Organizations and as a veterans Social Worker I’ve learned the importance of listening and then to act on the concerns those I’ve worked with,” he said.  “As a city councilor, I intend to offer the same level service to those of Saco as I do with my professional life.”

Archer said the top three issues the city is facing are the economy, taxes and infrastructure.
He said if elected, his top goal would be thoughtful analysis of city spending and accountability. 

Archer said as a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program, he has seen many of the struggles that senior citizens face. He said seniors should not struggle with paying for food and medicine because of high taxes. 

He said if elected, his understanding of the challenges of the city’s low-income citizens face will weigh heavily on his decisions. 

Matthew DiCianni did not respond by press time. 

According to his website, his top issues are taxes, sustainable growth and maintaining a positive political climate.

DiCianni stated that city councilors should be open to new ideas, responsive to residents concerns, transparent on issues, advocate for their constituents and be able to make tough decisions.

“The city councilor should educate members of their wards as to what is going on in the city and be an ambassador in the community helping to bring people together,” he stated on his website.

WARD THREE

Barbara Colman, 56, is an office manager and a volunteer. 

Colman said a city councilor needs to be an expert in public policy and refer to the city charter and code and state and federal statutes, the same tools she has used while researching information over the past three years. 

Colman said if elected she would familiarize herself with the various duties of the office. She said she would be attentive to the constituents needs and encourage them to participate in the city’s decision making process. 

“I would ask and welcome them to attend council and workshop meetings,” she said. “I would solicit input to have a full range of information from the residents of Saco before making a decision.”

Her top goals, Colman said, would be to increase economic development to bring business to the community to help lower the mil rate and there needs to be better business development to produce better paying jobs to attract people to Saco.

Colman said there has to be better communication and transparency in city government and as part of that she would request monthly financial reports from the city and school to see where each entity stands financially. 

She said the city needs to address its aging schools before building a new public works facility. If a new school is built, one building with grades K-5, the city and school department could close down the other locations and utilize some for other purposes. 

William Doyle, 37, is a labor relations representative. As a current councilor, Doyle said, he has experience building city budgets and sitting on multiple committees, and through his job, he is well versed in contract negotiations, mediation and arbitration. 

“I will continue to be a proactive and responsive voice on the Saco City Council,” he said. “I believe through communication and transparency in our government we can work together to secure a strong and prosperous future for our community.”

If elected, Doyle said,, his top goal for the next two years would be to move forward with construction to replace Young School and to decide whether to move toward a consolidated school concept or keep neighborhood schools.

Another top issue is the mil rate issue. As residential growth increases in Saco, so does the the need for city resources. 

Doyle said the city has more commercial development underway than at anytime in the past 15 years, and that needs to continue so that the city’s commercial tax base grows. 

The city needs to look at a charter revision, he said. This would be the final piece of strategic planning for the city, the other pieces being the Bridge 2025 visioning project and the current work being done by the comprehensive plan committee.

WARD FOUR

Lynn Copeland, 56, is a legal assistant, notary public, therapeutic foster parent and wedding officiant. 

Copeland said being an advocate for others comes easily to her and as a therapeutic foster parent she understands how to “amplify the voice” of those who need help.

Copeland said she has served on several boards and commissions working to bring positive change in an informed and collaborative way. 

Copeland said after knocking on hundreds of doors, she has heard the issues that are important to the residents of Ward 4.

“I reached out to citizens and city staff to understand their viewpoints on the issues and engaged in respectful, civil discussions on potential solutions,” she said. “The responses I heard will weigh heavily in the decisions I make for the betterment of our community. It’s my deep connection to our town and its people that drive me to run for City Council and improve the lives of my neighbors.”

Copeland said rising property taxes is the most significant issue facing taxpayers and the city must broaden its tax base by welcoming manufacturing and industry to Saco with open arms. Generating a larger industrial base will create economic growth to offset property taxes and allow for tax relief for the elderly, young families, and those struggling to remain in their homes.  

Copeland said other critical issues are education and protecting natural resources including the Saco River, beaches, brooks, parks and trails.

Michael Burman, 38, is an associate professor of psychology at University of New England. 

He said if elected his top goal would be to see Saco invest in the future. 

“In a short-sighted effort to save dollars, we’ve sometimes, accidentally, went down the wrong path,” he said. “I believe that we can have both tax control and a bright future through well-placed investments that encourage economic growth and long-term financial stability.

Burman said he’s savvy with finances. His laboratory at UNE won more than $2 million in federal grants and, he said, as chairman of the University Faculty Assembly’s financial affairs committee, it was his job to study, understand and explain to others the complex and large university budget.

Burman said he believes the city needs to move the public works building or else it will spend millions repairing and maintaining it over the years. The city also needs to invest in a replacement for Young School and invest in education.

Burman said economic growth and taxes are major issues, as are coastal erosion.

“If the river and coastline are part of what make Saco unique, then Camp Ellis is where it comes together,” he said. “However, it’s literally washing away.”

WARD SIX

Jason Boucher, 33, is self-employed in the field of residential construction and remodeling and is an associate broker with The Maine Real Estate Network.

Boucher said as a downtown resident, he sees the potential for vibrancy, economic growth, and the ability to be within a short walk of any service or entertainment an individual would need.

“Between my professional knowledge, my domestic and international travel experience, and my vision for where Saco could be I have a developed vision of what Saco’s downtown community has the possibility to harbor,” he said. 

If elected, Boucher said, his top goal would be smart, sustainable, and healthy growth for Saco’s downtown community.

One of his top goals would be working to alleviate the tax burden by focusing on increasing density and commercial space and services in the downtown area, he said. Other areas of focus would be traffic issues downtown and tailoring the downtown to serve the needs of a healthier community that sees more individuals walking, riding bikes, and using public transit.

Another goal would be to ensure a resolution to mitigating beach erosion caused by the Saco River Jetty that would preserve the area without putting a high burden on taxpayers.

Micah Smart, 34, is an attorney with Eaton Peabody. 

Smart said Saco has amazing natural resources in the coastline and river, a deep history, and smart and engaged residents who understand and appreciate the issues facing the city.  

“I want the opportunity to help the city continue to develop, utilize its resources responsibly, and support the people of Saco,” said Smart. “I will strive to always bring an open mind and to work collaboratively with fellow councilors, municipal departments, and other residents.”

Smart said the city has done a good job of avoiding over-reliance on long-term debt, and is in a very good financial position.

He said he would like to see that continue and his top goal, if elected, would be to ensure the long-term health and financial well being of the city

He’d like to see responsible commercial and residential development, infrastructure investment, and renewable and energy efficiency projects, Smart said.

He said the city must be mindful of the need to keep up the city’s infrastructure and services to accommodate Saco’s increasing population.

Smart said while it’s unfortunate the Saco Island wind turbine didn’t work out, he believes the city should continue to review alternative energy projects and invest in energy efficiency. to provide long-term cost savings to the city and keep the pristine wilderness intact. 
 
 Theodore Sirois, 62, is an equipment technician with Texas Instruments, a retired U.S. Navy Chief and currently a school board member.

“My top goal would be to find alternative sources of revenue so we are not so overly dependent on the tax revenue from single-family homes to keep the city running,” said Sirois. “In the last 20 years, residential property owner’s responsibility to cover municipal expenses has risen from 66 percent to 75 perrcent.”

Sirois said one of the many hindrances to a healthy revenue flow is the hoarding of prime property for unspecified future use, and much of this property is underutilized and expensive for the city to maintain. 

Except for schools and municipal offices, the city should consider relocating other city services such as public works to less desirable city-owned properties, said Sirois.  More desirable surplus property could then be sold to provide immediate revenue and get more businesses and homes on the tax rolls, he said.

Sirois said the city must be more proactive in dealing with homes at risk of foreclosure and work with property owners to keep them in their homes. 
 
Sirois said that Saco has prevented the commercialization of ocean frontage and kept out big box stores and now needs to capitalize on the recreational opportunities this has created. He said the city should partner with businesses and abutting homeowners of provide access to beaches and wooded areas with adequate parking. Revenue could be generated with parking and renting items like kayaks and chairs.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.