Brunswick voters will fill four Town Council seats and three school board seats on Election Day, Nov. 4.

Starting this election, all voting has been moved from the Brunswick Junior High School to the Recreation Center on Brunswick Landing. Curtis Memorial Library is hosting meet-the-candidates nights next month, on Oct. 16 for Town Council and Oct. 17 for school board.

Here’s what Town Council candidates told The Times Record about their goals and opinions on town issues.

These responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.

District 1

Richard Ellis and Lisa Trombley are running to replace David Watson in District 1, where he’s served since 2002.

Richard Ellis

Ellis was a Brunswick School Department board member from 2011–2016, where he lead the finance and facilities committees. He works at WEX in Portland and lives on Adams Road in Brunswick.

Tell voters about yourself.

Brunswick has always been my home. I moved here in 1969 when I was 1, grew up here and, later, raised my own family here. My family came when my father was stationed at the Brunswick Naval Air Station, and we lived in Navy housing at Cook’s Corner. When he retired, we moved to a home off Jordan Avenue, where my mother still lives today.

On special Saturdays, my dad would take me to the Wing Five building. I’d pretend I was working at a typewriter while he actually did his work, and sometimes he would show me the P-3s. Deployments were hard, when dad went away, but I was a Navy brat through and through. I attended our local schools from Jordan Acres through Brunswick High School, graduating in 1986. My four siblings, my two children, and several nieces and nephews also went to Brunswick schools. I went to college at the University of Delaware. After college, I married my wife, Jill, and together we raised our two children here in Brunswick. I spent a decade working in Delaware before returning home in 2001. I’ve lived on Adams Road for more than 24 years now, and I still love calling Brunswick my home.

What makes you qualified for town government?

I have experience in business, local government and volunteer board work. These experiences taught me how to effectively oversee areas I’m not an expert in by asking good questions, listening carefully, relying on expertise and thinking things through before making decisions. And this work has helped me understand how budgets, and particularly our town and school budgets, work.

I helped the [school board] review spending and revenue each year to ensure efficient budgets while providing the required resources our students and staff needed to succeed. During my time on the school board, school spending increases averaged just 2.1% per year — significantly lower than the recent increases seen in both town and school budgets. I also served four years on the board of Midcoast Youth Theater as treasurer, overseeing the nonprofit’s finances and operations — and even performing on stage in more than a dozen musicals over the past 10 years.

What are the most pressing issues you want to address on the council?

Fairness in property taxes is a timely and important issue. The recent property revaluation brought some expected changes — and a few surprises. While the total increase approved by the Town Council was under 3%, residential property values rose much faster than business properties. Many homeowners now feel a harsher tax impact.

The hardest hit are residents in Brunswick’s nearly 1,200 mobile homes in parks. Their property taxes are rising faster than any other group — over 55% on average. These families live in homes that typically lose value over time, on land they don’t own. Yet they face the largest percentage tax increases in town, on top of rising lot rents. This is a serious issue for District 1, where nearly two-thirds of the town’s mobile homes are located. I fully support the council’s recent action to study rising lot rents, but we must go further. If elected, I will advocate for a targeted property tax rebate program for residents in mobile home parks facing these difficult increases.

What are your plans to work with MRRA to address ongoing PFAS remediation at the airport?

PFAS contamination is a serious issue, and it is not the only environmental challenge left by the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. The base has a long history of contamination, and some areas that affect local aquifers and redevelopment will require careful monitoring for years to come.

I support a strategy of working closely with the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, our state representatives, and federal and state agencies to ensure the cleanup is conducted safely, thoroughly and transparently. My focus will be on keeping residents informed, making sure progress moves along efficiently, and protecting everyone’s health — especially for those with private wells.

What is your approach to town development?

Development in Brunswick should reflect the kind of community we want it to be. New housing development must be carefully planned, paced and promoted responsibly, considering roads, schools and public safety at every step. Costs should be shared fairly with developers, not simply passed on to future taxpayers.

Brunswick has long charged impact fees on new development to support parks and recreation, and I would like to see these fees expanded to cover the full costs that growth places on our public infrastructure, including roads, schools and public safety.

I also want to advance a clear vision for development and traffic management in the Cook’s Corner area. This area has become increasingly congested, particularly with recent growth at the Landing, and it requires focused attention from both the town and council to ensure safe, efficient and well-planned improvements.

Lisa Trombley

Tell voters about yourself.

As I was born and raised in Bath and a proud graduate of Morse High School, class of ’89, I’ve lived and worked in the greater Midcoast area my entire life. For the past 15 years, my husband and I have made our home in Brunswick, where we’ve raised a blended family of 11 and run a small business.

What makes you qualified for town government?

I’ve always had a strong commitment to community service and have found myself in various roles including, but not limited to, volunteering with the fire department, coaching youth sports, leading Girl Scouts and serving for 30 years as a director for the Litchfield Fair. Most recently, I served on the Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee, giving me deep insight into Brunswick’s current and future needs.

I bring a practical, hands-on background in finance and public service, and I care deeply about the people and future of this town. My time on the CPUSC has given me a solid understanding of Brunswick’s inventory, zoning, environmental ordinances and demographics, as well as the public’s vision for what our community should be.

What are the most pressing issues you want to address on Town Council?

One of my top priorities is seeing the Comprehensive Plan through to implementation. Additionally, I want to explore more conservative and sustainable financial approaches for managing the town’s budget and resources. While I will be a part of a bigger team, I hope to focus on fiscal responsibility as it pertains to responsible growth and progress.

What are your plans to work with MRRA to address ongoing PFAS remediation at the airport?

I am committed to working closely with MRRA and relevant agencies to ensure responsible parties are held accountable for cleanup. I will advocate for transparency and continued public communication to protect the health and safety of our community.

What is your approach to town development?

Although growth is continuous and ever-changing, my approach to development is thoughtful and cautious. With the current housing crisis and new state mandates, it’s crucial to balance growth with the capacity of our infrastructure and public services. I believe in being proactive rather than reactive, making sure that development aligns with community values and long-term sustainability.

District 4

Two candidates are vying for the seat held by Chairperson Sande Updegraph, who is resigning at the end of November. The new District 4 councilor will serve the remainder of Updegraph’s term, through 2027.

Corinne Perreault

Perreault served on the school board from 2001-2018. She owns Perreault & Daughters Construction with her husband.

Tell voters about yourself.

I am a Brunswick native and proud Navy brat. After living in several Navy towns across the country during my early childhood, my family returned to Brunswick in 1980, and I have been a nearly constant resident since. I am married to John Perreault and we have two adult children, Sarah and Hannah. We are all Brunswick natives and Brunswick High School graduates.

I have spent my professional life training and working with law enforcement, firefighters, medical professionals, transportation providers and parents throughout Maine to ensure children are safely transported in vehicles. Two days a month, I partner with Mid Coast Hospital to provide free car seat inspections and distribute seats to parents and caregivers in our community. I have spent countless hours volunteering throughout our community. Currently, I serve on the boards of both Maine State Music Theatre and Brunswick Community Education Foundation.

What makes you qualified for town government?

I am a veteran school board member, serving District 4 from 2001–2018. In those nearly two decades of experience in town government, I have demonstrated the ability to collaborate, negotiate, plan and question, but most importantly, communicate.

What are your plans to work with MRRA to address ongoing PFAS remediation at the airport?

I plan to support the council leadership team and the town manager as they continue to collaborate with the MRRA board and staff to share information and to communicate all public information to the citizens of Brunswick.

What is your approach to town development?

I support residential development within the growth zone. For areas outside the growth zone, I believe we should support development but need to be cautious not to overload the natural resources … and overwhelm the existing infrastructure in those areas. In regard to business development, I believe Brunswick should find ways to attract new business and commercial development, but support and show appreciation for existing businesses in town. If our current businesses in town find success and growth, we will attract new businesses and encourage them to make Brunswick their home as well.

Stephen Walker

Walker is the former executive director of the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust and previously served as the District 2 town councilor for 11 years.

Tell voters about yourself.

From an early age, I have held the core belief that we are all connected to each other, sharing a single planet with finite resources. For me, my purpose on this planet is to at least leave things in the same if not better shape than I have had the privilege to experience. As a parent, it is my duty to heed the lessons of history, act in accordance with what science tells me and do everything in my power to give my son the best opportunities for finding contentment in a rapidly changing world. To that effect, I have dedicated my personal and professional life to public service and natural resource conservation.

What makes you qualified for town government?

In my opinion, municipal government, the most intimate level of our democracy, is the ripest for ushering the type of change needed to address current challenges. Neighbors can work face-to-face around a shared table and interact without distractions from partisan politics. This has been my experience of over 30 years of serving on local commissions first in Freeport followed by the Brunswick Planning Board and several Brunswick Town Council terms. Professionally, I have served as staff in the Brunswick Planning Department and worked with well over 200 municipalities in all 16 Maine counties during my tenure in state government. All Mainers value community, quality of place and our shared natural resources. Protecting these values can only happen by working collaboratively at the local level.

What are the most pressing issues you want to address on Town Council?

It has been 20 years since announcement of plans to close Brunswick Naval Air Station. At that time, the town was in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. That process, as well as our overall approach to contemplating future growth, was turned on its head by an understandable fear that Brunswick would be challenged to recover from the social and economic impacts of base closure. Now, 20 years later, we find ourselves again updating our town’s Comprehensive Plan. This time around, we need to take the implementation of our Comprehensive Plan seriously, grow intentionally, sustainably and affordably. The most pressing issue that I want to address is returning to a sensible approach to growth rather than continuing our protracted post-BRAC growth at any cost mentality.

What are your plans to work with MRRA to address ongoing PFAS remediation at the airport?

With the creation of Brunswick Executive Airport, MRRA took on the responsibility for maintaining safe airport operations and all the liabilities that come with it. MRRA was repeatedly cautioned of the risks that PFAS-based fire-suppression systems posed. MRRA chose to focus resources on real estate deals, and now Brunswick residents are stuck with the results of poor planning. Clearly, remediation needs to proceed, but the cost should not be borne on the backs of Brunswick residents. Should I be fortunate enough to serve District 4 on the Town Council, I will work on the newly enhanced local representation on the MRRA board to make sure every federal and state funding opportunity is utilized to clean up the current mess and that the necessary precautions are taken seriously to minimize the chances of future spills.

What is your approach to town development?

Growth of our town is necessary and inevitable. In my opinion, however, we need to let go of the notion that new development expands the tax base and magically provides property tax relief for the average resident. Whether increased public school enrollment, additional miles of annual road maintenance, increased traffic and all the other associated municipal service needs, growth increases taxes. Moving forward, we need to strengthen disincentives for rural sprawl and implement transparent measures for calculating the true tax implications for new growth proposals. Impact fees on developers, not increased tax bills for you and me, should be our approach to town development moving forward.

District 6

The current councilor for District 6, Nathaniel Shed, is running for reelection against challenger Ramona Thieme.

Nathaniel Shed

Tell voters about yourself.

I am a retired nonprofit professional. I have volunteered for many nonprofit community boards, and I’ve served on three foundation boards. My wife, Julie, and I moved down to Brunswick from Waterville eight years ago. We live on Cedar Street and regularly attend town events. We have adult children in Pittsfield and Liberty. Our biggest joy is Ramona, our 4-year-old granddaughter.

What makes you qualified for town government?

I served on the school board in China, Maine, and have three years of experience as the District 6 town councilor in Brunswick. I’ve chaired the Finance Committee for the past two years. With 35 years of experience in nonprofit executive leadership, I have developed a deep sense of what it means to care for, and steward, a community.

What are the most pressing issues you want to address on Town Council?

1. Brunswick needs additional workforce and low-income housing. We need to increase our efforts to support unhoused individuals and families in need of housing, food and transportation.

2. Maintaining downtown Brunswick with vital shopping and entertainment offerings, and assuring enough parking to encourage economic growth in the heart of the town.

3. Effective budget management to keep the annual property tax increases at or below 3%.

4. Support long-term infrastructure funding as outlined in the Capital Improvement Plan.

5. Ongoing communication with the Brunswick School Department concerning budgeting, auditing and capital projects.

6. Implementation of the Town of Brunswick’s Climate Action Plan and increasing recreational programming and land conservation.

What are your plans to work with MRRA to address ongoing PFAS remediation at the airport?

I am very thankful to our leadership team and [fellow councilors] for working overtime on the PFAS issues and solutions to the crisis at the MRRA airport. Most of the concerns about the Aug. 19, 2024, spill have been addressed by MRRA and with new legislation from the State of Maine. We need to have more progress on the cleaning of AFFF system pipes, reducing storm drain pollution and ending groundwater well contamination. The question of what caused the AFFF foam spill has not been resolved, and the report on this has not been shared with the Town of Brunswick or with the public. I will continue to work on all of these outstanding concerns.

What is your approach to town development?

I am in favor of 1%-2% annual growth in residential and commercial properties. I don’t think that a housing moratorium is a good option for Brunswick. I would consider reducing future larger housing developments as part of a limited growth matrix. I would support additional regulations for maintaining environmentally sensitive woods and wetlands near any future housing development. As part of planning for housing growth, we need to look at the infrastructure to support this growth.

Ramona Thieme

Tell voters about yourself.

What makes you qualified for town government?

I have a small business running an IT support company, which has given me a lot of experience working with many types of people. I’m pragmatic, with a desire to get things done. I’ve both spectated and participated in a lot of council meetings over the years to remain up to date on issues and stay involved with my communities.

What are the most pressing issues that you want to address on Town Council?

Affordability, pedestrian and bike safety, housing (including regulating short-term rentals such as Airbnb), trust in government.

What are your plans to work with MRRA to address ongoing PFAS remediation at the airport?

People have expressed that they feel like the various entities involved are all pointing fingers when they reach out asking for information. Requests to MRRA are referred to the Navy, requests to the Navy are referred to MRRA, etc. The community needs a dedicated person to help them navigate the complexities of these issues. Additionally, the Town Council has input on MRRA board appointments and should make sure that they are at least as concerned with the environment and health of residents as they are with development goals. Lastly, MRRA needs to release their root cause analysis. We need to get this information to the public.

What is your approach to town development?

Brunswick is growing and the cost of living has increased substantially. We need to prioritize development that caters to the needs of our residents. We need affordable housing and accessible transportation so that the people who live here aren’t going to get displaced by gentrification. The roads are regularly overcrowded, with people routinely breaking traffic laws because intersections aren’t designed for this level of traffic. Along with roadway improvements, we need to make it easier to get around Brunswick and to/from surrounding areas without relying on single-occupant vehicles.

District 2

In District 2, Councilor James Ecker is running for reelection uncontested. Ecker lives on Simpson’s Point Road and has served on town committees including the Comprehensive Plan Update and Sustainability Committees, according to the town website.