The Portland Press Herald asked candidates running for Cape Elizabeth Town Council and school board the questions voters might want the answers to in advance of the election in November. Here’s what they had to say:

TOWN COUNCIL

Caitlin Harriman

Why are you running for this position?

I’m running for Town Council because I’m very committed to my community, and I feel as though I can represent our town as we balance our desire for maintaining our heritage and our founding principles with the need for adaptability as our society faces challenges and changes.

What about you makes you a qualified candidate?

While I’ve been on the council for 15 years, my family has been in Cape Elizabeth for 13 generations. I have a unique perspective of the history of the town how things have been done, what advancements have been made. I am able to bring different perspective to the council as a person owning a business and a farm, knowing what it’s like to balance needs and wants.

What issues do you plan to address while serving in this position?

In my 15 years on the council, I have never had an agenda to pursue, I listen to the experts, and the communities comment, and I try to address the problems that the community brings up and hope to find the best solutions possible with the information that we have.

What would you like voters to know about you?

I am a human being just like everybody else in town and doing my very best to balance life, work, and happiness within the craziness that is our world right now.

Penny Jordan

Why are you running for this position?

Cape Elizabeth is important to me. I grew up in Cape Elizabeth and generations of my family did as well. During the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, I watched as my father, Bill Jordan Sr., and others work to manage growth through their work on the Town Council in a way that recognized the town’s roots while creating the town so many people love today. I want to be part of the decision-making that retains the elements that make Cape Elizabeth attractive to families, retirees and others while also recognizing that change will happen.

I want to continue to be involved in the decisions that guide Cape Elizabeth’s evolution and help guide change. What will Cape Elizabeth look like in 10, 20, 30 years? I’m not sure, but I know I want to be involved. I want to focus time and energy on ensuring that Cape Elizabeth is economically diverse, remains true to its farming and fishing heritage, that we find ways to balance tourists and day-to-day life and balance the needs of the schools and other municipal needs, including the Sawyer Road project, Shore Road redesign and other infrastructure upgrades. Most importantly I want to address the needs of residents that are finding it financially challenging to stay in their homes.

What about you makes you a qualified candidate?

I am currently serving as Town Council chair. I have a firm understanding of the issues that are facing Cape Elizabeth, and over the past nine years, I have been immersed in these issues/challenges. I love engaging with citizens on issues and projects that seek to make Cape Elizabeth even better. I’m always willing to listen and learn from the people I serve, I’m not afraid to be wrong and never afraid to challenge the status quo.

During my tenure with the Town Council, I have chaired the Ordinance Committee dealing with short-term rentals, land use, town center and parking ordinances to name a few. I’ve co-chaired the School Building Advisory Committee to develop alternatives to address the needs of our aging schools. I’ve represented Cape Elizabeth on Maine Municipal Association’s Legislative Committee where we analyzed bills to understand their impact on municipalities and the concept of home rule. And currently, I represent Cape Elizabeth in the Greater Portland Council of Governments’ Metro Regional Coalition where we discuss and address issues that touch all member towns.

I feel my experience, my understanding of current issues and opportunities and those that are on the horizon make me uniquely qualified to serve the citizens of Cape Elizabeth.

What issues do you plan to address while serving in this position?

My primary issue stems from affordability which ripples into taxes, tax base and managed growth. The new middle school is happening, there are municipal projects such as town center intersection, Shore Road redesign and others that need to happen. There are projects that have been on hold as the town worked through school solutions. We will need to determine when these can/need to happen and how they will be funded while paying for the new middle school.

We will need to look at the investment needed for all projects over the next 10-15 years and determine how these needs will be met with taxpayer dollars, grant dollars or other funding. And at the same time determine how we address the needs of approximately 30% of our citizens that are financially challenged. Bottom line is I want to address the needs of residents who are finding it challenging to stay in their homes. This is not a stand-alone issue. It is an issue tied to all that I stated previously, and the fact Cape Elizabeth’s tax base is somewhat stagnant, we need to think creatively about how we address affordability.

What would you like voters to know about you?

I am a lifelong resident of Cape Elizabeth and an owner of Jordan’s Farm where I grew up along with my siblings, Bill Jr., Pam, and Carol Anne. Jordan’s Farm, a fifth-generation mixed vegetable farm on Wells Road, has an onsite farm stand and sells into the wholesale market, helping to provide me with a firm understanding of the challenges and opportunities of owning a business in Cape Elizabeth.

I worked at UNUM for over 20 years as an IT project manager, and in 2000, I returned to the farm where I grew up. I graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School and earned my master’s degree in social work from Boston University focusing on community organizing and program design.

I am active in work to address food insecurity. I serve on the statewide committee to end hunger in Maine by 2030 and started the organization “Farms for Food Equity,” which purchases produce from Maine farms and works closely with food security organizations, such as Preble Street’s Food Security Hub, Wayside Food Programs and South Portland Food Cupboard, who help ensure access to Maine raised produce.

Tim Reiniger

Why are you running for this position?

Cape Elizabeth can best handle future town challenges through careful management of spending and taxes, smart deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and municipal and land use policies that support neighborhoods. Cape needs a Town Council with the vision, experience and know-how to make transformational governance changes while preserving what brought us to Cape Elizabeth in the first place.

I have the right experience and professional background to address Cape’s current needs. I have nine years of municipal finance, budgeting and land use experience, including as a member of the Cape Elizabeth Town Council from 2021 to 2024, on which I served as council chair. And, as an attorney, I have extensive experience in working with municipal ordinances, information policy and technology matters.

 What about you makes you a qualified candidate?

Cape Elizabeth is poised to leverage the benefits of AI as both a governance tool under the human control of town employees and a services enhancer for citizens and businesses. By making data dramatically more usable and interoperable, AI-driven governance can transform the experience of living and doing business in Cape.

In my role as chair of the risk and trust committee of the American Bar Association, I have worked with legal and technology experts analyzing the benefits and risks of AI, and I have learned about government deployment of AI as a tool to improve quality of life and the delivery of town services. Cape can become a model community for Maine.

Examples of how AI can be leveraged by the town include: automated permit review for building and zoning applications that will introduce efficient and objective application of codes; use of AI tools to help build a public-facing interactive tool for comprehensive planning and zoning ordinance modernization and use of AI tools for assisting public safety and care givers in helping persons with dementia and to support elders and people with disabilities in combating online fraudsters.

What issues do you plan to address while serving in this position?

Cape’s neighborhoods and rural village character are difficult to maintain against development pressures. We must not shrink from making tough decisions that prioritize the needs of neighborhoods and Cape residents over visitors and regional planners.

I support the following:

1. Near Cliff Beach, scaling back parking on Shore Road, creation of residential permit parking in the adjoining neighborhoods and diverting out-of-town beach goers to Crescent Beach State Park.

2. In Shore Acres and Broad Cove, town acceptance of the paper streets to extend public walking access to the shoreline.

3. Retention of the Sawyer Road passage from Cape Elizabeth to Scarborough, in some form, through the Scarborough Marsh. Runners, walkers and cyclists, in addition to motorists, all rely on this convenient passage. We need far more community dialogue on the issue of abandoning Sawyer Road. I support a moratorium on this proposal until we have engaged the public and explored all reasonable options.

What would you like voters to know about you?

In my three years on the council, I demonstrated a commitment to making Cape Elizabeth more affordable through smart budgeting and fiscal restraint. In fact, during my year as Town Council chair, the council achieved a property tax increase of only 2.6% — one of the lowest in 20 years — as compared with the budgeted 7.3% increase last year.

The town needs fiscal/tax restraint on behalf of those on fixed incomes and those who are otherwise cost-burdened — nearly 30% of households, young and old. The town must prudently manage its budget and your hard-earned dollars. With new labor contracts for town and school employees (well deserved in these inflationary times), $5,000,000 in the new middle school bond payments and an additional $10,000,000 or more, promised by the school board for necessary repairs to the high school, our fiscal issues will be very challenging. Budgeting diligence and experience will be needed to achieve fiscal responsibility. With double digit tax increases ahead of us annually to pay for these commitments, the council needs members who understand the budget and prioritize spending your tax dollars wisely.

I am a registered independent and believe that the council is at its best when collaborating in a nonpartisan manner. Fiscal responsibility, support for neighborhoods and smart deployment of artificial intelligence are nonpartisan issues. And this is what I’ll advocate should I have the honor of serving a second term on the Town Council.

Cynthia Troiano

Why are you running for this position?

I’m running for Town Council because I care deeply about Cape Elizabeth and the people who call it home. Residents’ voices must be heard, taxpayer dollars must be used responsibly and our neighborhoods should remain safe, livable and vibrant. Too often, decisions have catered more to visitors than residents, and I want to help restore balance.

Just as importantly, I believe we must restore trust in local government. Residents deserve confidence that decisions are made openly, fairly and in their best interest. I am committed to thoughtful, practical leadership that strengthens accountability and ensures Cape Elizabeth works first and foremost to protect the people who call it home.

What about you makes you a qualified candidate?

I am a third-generation Cape Elizabeth resident who knows this town firsthand and cares deeply about its future. My professional experience in real estate, sales, marketing and hospitality has given me skills in financial responsibility, problem-solving and working closely with the public — skills that directly apply to the work of the Town Council.

I also bring a personal investment in Cape Elizabeth’s neighborhoods and have become increasingly active in civic initiatives. That combination of lifelong roots, professional expertise and recent hands-on involvement makes me a grounded, resident-focused candidate with the perspective needed to ensure town government reflects the needs of its people.

What issues do you plan to address while serving in this position?

My priorities include traffic and pedestrian safety, protecting neighborhood livability, ensuring property tax dollars are spent wisely and preserving the unique character of Cape Elizabeth.

I am especially concerned about road safety in high-traffic areas, the impacts of short-term rentals like Airbnb and fair property valuations. For example, the proposed removal of Sawyer Road — which passes through a beautiful marsh — is a poor deal and represents tremendous financial risk for Cape Elizabeth. Most of the road lies in Scarborough, yet Cape taxpayers would inexplicably be on the hook for cost overruns. Combined with a recent revaluation that sharply raised taxes for many neighborhoods, residents need strong representation to make sure their concerns come first.

Cape Elizabeth has generously welcomed visitors, rolling out the red carpet, but too often this has come without fully considering the safety, tranquility and quality of life of our residents. My focus will be on finding the appropriate balance, strengthening neighborhoods and ensuring that decisions benefit the people who live here every day.

What would you like voters to know about you?

I care deeply about the safety and well-being of all residents, especially children and vulnerable households. I became involved in local civic initiatives because I was concerned about the direction of the town and how decisions were affecting everyday families, senior citizens and cost-burdened households.

I am practical, outspoken and committed to protecting neighborhoods, ensuring fiscal responsibility and restoring trust in local government. As a lifelong Mainer, I believe thoughtful, responsible leadership is essential to preserving what makes Cape Elizabeth special. My goal is to safeguard the quality of life that brought so many of us here, while making sure our town government puts Cape’s residents first.

SCHOOL BOARD

Andrew Patten

Why are you running for this position?

I’m running to support public education with business experience and a commitment to thoughtful, fiscally responsible leadership. I believe strong schools are the foundation of a strong community, and I want to help Cape Elizabeth continue that tradition.

What about you makes you a qualified candidate?

I have a degree in elementary education, and I think I bring a unique combination of classroom training, business experience and public service to the board. My background in education, a product management career for many years in the global seafood business and years on a town finance committee give me the tools to make balanced, informed decisions that serve all residents, young and old.

What issues do you plan to address while serving in this position?

I’ll focus on maintaining high-performing schools, supporting teachers, improving facilities and ensuring budgets are both effective and fiscally responsible. I’ll work to foster strong relationships between the school board, Town Council and community. The town’s recent vote in favor of issuing a school bond to build a new middle school created some disagreement within our community. I am very sensitive to this situation. As a member of the school board, I plan to engage first by listening and will focus on an alignment between the need to maintain our school buildings, carry out our overall educational mission and make responsible budget decisions to reflect the realities of each budget cycle.

What would you like voters to know about you?

I’m a long-time supporter of public education, a parent of three grown children who attended public schools and a resident who values community collaboration. I will listen, lead with respect and work hard to serve each generation in Cape Elizabeth. As a board member, I plan to be a consensus builder and respectful of all opinions being expressed. I support continuous improvement in the district and professional development for staff in both schools and board members. Other skills I possess are a strong fluency in spoken Spanish having spent most of my business career engaged with South American suppliers. Finally, as an indication of my commitment to students, I have a CDL school bus driver’s license which allows me, in my spare time, to drive teams from a neighboring school district to athletic events.

Caitlin Sweet

Why are you running for this position?

I am running for reelection to the Cape Elizabeth School Board because I strongly believe in public service and being an active part of my community. I am also very excited to continue to be a part of the school building project after working so hard these last few years on getting a successful bond passed. This is a really exciting time to be a part of the schools. I feel very privileged to have been a part of this process over the last three years and hope that I am reelected and can continue to be a part of this project and a part of the Cape Elizabeth school district team.

What about you makes you a qualified candidate?

I have served on the Cape Elizabeth School Board for the last three years. During that time, I have been on the Policy Committee for three years, chairing it for this past year. One thing I think we did in policy that is really valuable was to work with our high school leadership team to move to a Latin honors system at our high school to reduce the intense competition our students were facing in a “top 10%” recognition system. I also served on the School Building Advisory Committee and played an important role in the process we have gone through as a town to get a plan for the future of our buildings approved by the voters.

What issues do you plan to address while serving in this position?

I think the best school boards work closely with their superintendents and local leadership teams to identify priorities. In addition to being a part of building the new middle school, I am excited to continue be a part of many projects and policies that we have been working on these past few years including monitoring the implementation of our new literacy curriculum and tackling our school’s cell phone policy in a way that meets the needs of staff, students and families. I would also really like to continue trying to work on changing a small part of the culture of Cape Elizabeth by changing the way we speak about student achievement in our district so that we celebrate all of students’ journeys, not just those on the traditional college path.

What would you like voters to know about you?

I have always been very transparent about my thoughts and feelings in my time as a school board member. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I feel like our primary responsibility as school board members is to be stewards of our students’ education and their well-being, and I take that incredibly seriously. I want to be a part of a school district that looks at every student as an individual and that celebrates every student’s achievements. All the decisions I make and input I provide will be with those goals in mind.

Anastasia Troxel

Why are you running for this position? 

As a proud Cape Elizabeth parent running for school board, I am dedicated to elevating our exceptional schools and community while also supporting responsible spending of taxpayer resources. Education is a precious gift — an opportunity to inspire growth and empower confident, capable adults who will shape our town and beyond. I am committed to amplifying student and community voices, advocating for innovative curricula with hands-on learning, STEM/STEAM programs, business development and real-world problem-solving to ignite engagement and prepare every child to thrive.

What about you makes you a qualified candidate?

With two children in our schools and years of dedicated volunteering, I’m deeply connected to our community’s needs and committed to amplifying student and parent voices. As a business owner, I bring proven leadership, business management and exceptional problem-solving skills to the Cape Elizabeth School Board. I’ve spent many years developing excellent hiring practices to obtain top, well-suited staff for a variety of positions. My passion for innovative STEM/STEAM curricula, balanced with creative outlets like arts and music, fosters a well-rounded education that upholds Cape Elizabeth’s 97% graduation rate and top-tier academic reputation. My collaborative approach and practical experience make me uniquely equipped to strengthen our schools.

What issues do you plan to address while serving in this position?

As a Cape Elizabeth School Board member, I will be dedicated to enhancing our educational environment and addressing our communities’ key priorities, ensuring every student thrives while respecting taxpayer resources. I will advocate for modern school facilities and technology to support student learning in a safe and healthy manner. I will help to strengthen staff recruitment to attract outstanding educators and fill gaps. By partnering with the town and community, I will promote safe infrastructure for the growing use of electric bikes and scooters in student commutes. My commitment is to ensure our schools remain a valued resource and provide safe and supported opportunities for every student to succeed.

What would you like voters to know about you?

As a parent of two in our community schools, I’m passionate about ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success. With a deep commitment to our schools and community, my priorities include providing resources for a top education in a healthy and safe learning environment, supporting teachers and responsibly managing resources to benefit students and staff. I believe in transparent communication and collaboration with parents, educators and community members to make decisions that put students first. I’m dedicated to listening, learning and working tirelessly to improve our schools for every child.