Cumberland voters will decide June 10 who serves on the Town Council and Cumberland-North Yarmouth school board, as well as whether to approve the $53.8 million school budget.

Three candidates are in the race for two at-large seats on the Cumberland Town Council. Candidates Michael “Mike” Edes, Robert “Bob” Vail and Ann Marie Maksymowicz are running for three-year terms. Vail is seeking reelection as an at-large councilor.

Geoffrey Michalak is running unopposed for the Town Council seat for West Cumberland.

Cara Orton, Kimberly Vine and Lauren Weliver are vying for two seats on the Maine School Administrative District 51 Board of Directors. Vine is current vice chair of the board, and chair of the Finance Committee.

Cumberland voters will also decide whether to approve the $53.8 million school budget adopted at the district budget meeting. They will also decide whether to continue the budget referendum process for the district for an additional three years.

Polls will be open June 10 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Cumberland Town Hall. Absentee ballots are available at Cumberland Town Hall and can be requested by mail by calling the Town Clerk’s Office at 829-5559, ext. 1014.

Town Council

Ann Marie Maksymowicz

What is your relevant experience? I am a social worker and have spent my career working with those who have historically been marginalized and discriminated against. I serve as a union steward with Preble Street Workers United, which is part of MSEA-SEIU Local 1989. I also served on the MSAD 51 Board of Directors for six years.

Why are you running for Town Council? I am running for Town Council because I am committed to supporting our community by striving to meet the needs of everyone — regardless of ability, income or circumstance. Cumberland has a rich agricultural history and a school district that attracts families; I want both to flourish.

What are your top three priorities for the Cumberland Town Council? One of my top priorities is affordable housing. Cumberland is in need of modest homes, apartments and rentals which increase diversity. We also need to support neighbors whose tax burden is unsustainable, particularly for those living on a fixed income.

Another priority is our aging and disabled neighbors. I want us to ensure people are supported in their home, both day-to-day or in an acute crisis. When neighbors are no longer able to live independently, they should have more options available that would allow them to remain in town and not have to move outside of the community in order to receive a higher level of care.

A third priority is maintaining and growing our local agriculture. Being able to support ourselves as a community is key. I want our local farms to be sustained and for us to encourage more hobby farms, gardens, community gardens, apiaries, et cetera.

Robert “Bob” Vail

Why are you running for Town Council? There’s a number of things that that I started to do that I haven’t completed. … I have a deep concern for affordability in my town, and we really don’t have affordable housing, so I want to continue to work on that issue. We need workforce housing … a couple of years ago, the town tried to put forward an affordable housing project that got shot down. I want to move ahead with that again, workforce housing. I want to see some continuum housing. We have a senior housing project, and those people, they are on limited income … They don’t live there because they’re wealthy, they live there because they can afford it. And as such, they’re going to age out, and there is no place for them to go. So what I’d like to see is an elder care facility: assisted living, nursing care, and then hospice care.

One of my other things that I want to do, I recently got the towns of Cumberland, Falmouth, Yarmouth and North Yarmouth to sit down with our town managers and the county manager to discuss ways of collaboration and consolidation. You know, if we keep doing the same thing year after year after year and expect a different outcome, it doesn’t happen. We need to do things differently, and one of those ways is fire and rescue, and police services, and further public works.

I want to continue with some collaboration and consolidation efforts. You know, taxes aren’t going to go down, so we have to … look at different ways of doing things.

Michael “Mike” Edes did not respond to request for comment.

MSAD 51 School Board

Cara Orton 

What is your relevant experience? Fifteen-year career as neuropsychologist developing programs and directing teams with fiscally responsible approach to drive outcomes and ensure long-term financial viability.

Served on state-appointed Office of Aging and Disability panels, attended state advisory meetings, and participated in developing the current five-year strategic plan for State of Maine Brain Injury Services.

Why are you running for MSAD 51 Board of Directors? Raising three school-age children, I feel strongly about protecting the integrity of our school system and community as we navigate this complex time in the larger social/political landscape. I am dedicated to upholding an inclusive, supportive, and high-performing school environment to provide the opportunity for all students to thrive.

What are your top three priorities for the MSAD 51 Board of Directors? 1. Inclusivity — Promote policies for equity and inclusion that address disparities and support marginalized student populations. Commit to an inclusive educational environment that respects and celebrates diversity.

2. Drive outcomes — Ensure we are using evidence-based practices and innovative approaches to drive positive outcomes in academics as well as mental, physical and emotional wellness indicators in our students. Use data to drive change when needed to continue the culture of excellence in our high performing school district.

3. Long-term financial planning — Achieve financial viability without compromising integrity or standards of education. Make sure we are allocating resources to have the largest impact on our goals while remaining mindful of rising mil rates for the community including our seniors and long-term residents.

Kimberly Vine 

What is your relevant experience? Accountant, educator, small business owner. Currently serving on the board of directors for MSAD 51 as vice chair, finance chair, Equity Leadership Steering Committee chair, previously sat on Community Engagement Committee.

Why are you running for MSAD 51 Board of Directors? Our towns cannot thrive without public service. There is so much work that goes into running a school, and each of us should be willing to, at some point, do our part to help. I have no personal agenda; I simply know that this is something I can do and would love to continue doing for another term.

What are your top three priorities for the MSAD 51 Board of Directors? 1. Continue to improve communication and increase trust between the community and the district. Over the last three years I have worked hard to make it easier for community members to access information, as well as create more opportunities for people to interact with the district administration. But there is still a lot of misinformation that is being spread, which has resulted in the belief that neither the board or the administration can be trusted. As a fellow taxpayer I understand the valid concerns people have, and now that I’ve been on the board I also have a better understanding of what is necessary to keep our schools robust, safe, and well-maintained. Our schools are our communities’ greatest investment and therefore require wise and talented leaders, which we have and for which I am very grateful.

2. Continue to engage the community in the functioning of the district. Similar to number 1, I recognize the collective brilliance that everyone in Cumberland and North Yarmouth have to offer! One of my favorite things to see is when someone shares their professional expertise, life experience, or specific giftedness, whether it’s in the classroom for the benefit of the students or in committee for the benefit of the district operations, such as the volunteers we have serving on the One Campus Project. I would love to see more seniors in the classroom, reading with students and educating them about history from their firsthand knowledge. By having this valued generation connect with our youngest, both groups can learn about each other as well as develop intergenerational friendships.

3. Continue to make sure each and every student’s education is inclusive and meets their needs. As chair of the Equity Committee I have learned so much about what equity in education is… and isn’t. I am very proud of the district equity plan that the board approved last year, and am eager to keep up with best practices so that we can be constantly improving the ways we help each student belong and reach their potential. I am looking forward to the district’s implementation of the Profile of a Learner Initiative as it guides us in our decisions about curriculum, multilevel tiers of support, health and safety, and policy.

Lauren Weliver

What is your relevant experience? I am a 15-year resident of Cumberland and mom to two Greely students. I am also a lawyer and partner at Murray Plumb & Murray, and have served on other boards, including the advisory board for the Casco Bay YMCA.

Why are you running for MSAD 51 Board of Directors? I am proud of our schools. My heart sank when our district became ensnared in nasty politics earlier this year. In response, I want to do what I can to ensure our community remains committed to its principles of excellence, inclusion, and kindness — and that we follow applicable laws.

What are your top three priorities for the MSAD 51 Board of Directors? 1. Keeping the focus on supporting the achievement of all students. We must continue to invest in professional development for teachers, targeted interventions for students needing additional support, and a curriculum aligned with our students’ long-term objectives, whether that be further education or job training.

2. Ensuring that the board makes decisions that support a positive learning environment. It is important to have a safe, inclusive, and engaging educational space for all students. This includes being a responsible steward of the previously approved One Campus Project and ongoing evaluation of student cell phone use at school.

3. Maintaining district financial responsibility. The board is accountable to the district’s taxpayers, in addition to its students, teachers, staff, and parents. When making budgetary decisions, we must ensure that our expenses are investments with demonstrable benefits for all stakeholders and are in balance with all our community’s interests.