Election: Tuesday, June 13, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Harrison Town Office

Absentee Ballots: Are now available

Write-Ins: There were no announced candidates for the Planning Board (three-year term) and Appeals Board (five-year term), so write-in candidates will be sought.

Candidates’ Night: Wednesday, June 7, 6 p.m., Harrison Elementary School. Vern Maxfield will serve as moderator. The event is sponsored by the Harrison Village Library.

POSITION: Harrison Select Board

Vote for 2

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

HARRISON — The field of candidates for two seats on the Harrison Select Board is crowded.

Board vice chairman Matthew Frank is seeking re-election.

Current board chairman Rick Sykes is leaving office.

Five newcomers hope to land a seat at the Select Board table. They include: Colleen Densmore, Michael Garvey, Debora Kane, Nathan Sessions and Brian Spaulding.

The News posed the following questions to candidates, whose answers appear in alphabetical order:

Q. Why did you decide to run for office?

Densmore: I’m running for selectperson for several reasons. First and most important is to serve our community with integrity and transparency in a non-partisan position. I believe my lengthy history of leadership will be an asset to the board. We need to manage our growth to maintain our small-town values. I decided to run last year following our challenges with the Select Board’s inability to collaborate and recommend a budget. To that end, my presence has been welcomed at the Select Board meetings for the last year. 

Frank: It is an honor to have served as a Harrison Selectperson. I have attempted to find a balance between common-sense solutions to our problems while making the most of our opportunities and preserving the lifestyle and values of the “Friendly Village.”

Garvey: I decided to run for selectman because I am not a person that sits idle. I want to work for the residents in helping us deal with the changes that are taking place. In the past 2 1/2 years that we have called Harrison home, I have seen the town growing. I have heard from residents how frustrated they are with the lack of transparency. They call the town with questions and do not get answers. In fact, in many cases, they do not even get a phone call back. I want to help change that.

Kane: I love this town and decided it was time to get more involved. Select Board is a way to work with our team at the town office, with the other elected officials, and with our citizens – this broad interaction and potential to make a difference is appealing to me.

Sessions: I was at a public budget hearing this spring and observed our Select Board working through a draft budget that had requested a 20% increase of the operations budget. I see the importance of the Select Board in the budget process and how they are able to provide a “checks and balance” step before sending a final budget to the voters. I believe in spending on necessities, but I see increased revenue as an opportunity to save for our future and return money to the taxpayers, not add new fixed costs to the town through creating new positions.  

Spaulding: Last year, I completed a nearly four-year stint as a member of the Planning Board. In the past, I have considered running for selectman several times. This time, friends encouraged me! I’ve been told I have good common sense. I am told the town may benefit from that. I also think I have a lot of experience, which, I’m oft reminded, is typically gained by learning from past mistakes. Perhaps, the younger folks also running for this office have yet to make their share of mistakes? And, I’m also told I’m in good physical and mental health for my age. I figure I have a few good years left to serve the town. I’d like to think those years will include 2024-2027.
Q. What strengths do you feel you would bring to the job?

Densmore: I spent four years on the citizen budget committee and have spent the last four years on our Planning Board, all volunteer. I served for two years on the board of directors for a large nonprofit health care facility in Boston. 

Frank: First and foremost, is my love of Harrison. I am detail oriented workaholic with a finance background. During my tenure, I have worked steadfastly with my Select Board to ensure that the mill rate stays low and only moves a fraction of the national standard. Harrison has only gone up by an average of 1.06% since I have been in office.

Garvey: I think my greatest strengths are my dedication and work ethic.  If I am fortunate enough to represent the residents of Harrison, they will be getting a person that will listen to residents and work 110% for you. I have seen what uncontrolled growth can do to a town. I grew up in a small town and saw firsthand what it does to a town. I will use that knowledge to avoid those pitfalls.

Kane: As a people manager in technology for many years, I have honed my strengths as an engaged listener, enthusiastic problem solver, and effective communicator. I look forward to putting these skills to use on the Select Board.

Sessions: I have great relationships with people who come from the extreme opposites of financial struggles and successes. I will offer my opinions and input considering the impact on all my neighbors.  I also am a business owner and make a living by being honest and treating people fairly. I will bring these qualities to the Select Board. 

Spaulding: I’ve previously mentioned my experience, common sense and several other sources of experience. I didn’t mention that for many years I have been a member of the Cape Monday Road Association (CMCRA), serving as a member of the board for several years. Also, as treasurer, vice president and website manager. I’ve long been in the computer field, both analog and digital, in the Navy and as a civilian. Most recently, I voluntarily served on the Board of the Harrison Village Cemetery, was vice president, then president and cemetery sextant, relinquishing the latter role to the town last year.

Q. What do you see are the two biggest challenges of the job, and how what would be your approach to dealing with them?

Densmore: Our two greatest challenges: our future and collaboration. Development of systems and ordinances to manage the influx of long-term growth.  Working collaboratively, set and attain manageable goals. One focused team supporting your tax dollars at work. The board’s function is to create policy. 

Frank: We have limited financial resources, so it is necessary to set priorities, maximize services and control costs. My priorities are the children and our infrastructure. Our children are our future. We have two outstanding sport facilities. I’ve made it my priority to get the lights fixed, the scoreboard repaired and the fields professionally serviced. This summer, I advocated for the return of lifeguards and swimming instruction at our summer recreation program.

I have been a champion for the new town garage. It will be completed later this year. I am a member of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, the only candidate for the Select Board on that committee. We are setting priorities and seeking outside grants to update and improve our downtown area. This week, as a direct result of the committee and teamwork with the town manager, a new sidewalk is being installed on Front Street. The walkway will be safer for all of our citizens.

Garvey: I think the first challenge is to try to change how many residents feel how the town is run. They voice their opinions, and they fall on deaf ears. That needs to change. We work for them, and they need to be shown the respect they deserve.    

The second challenge is the growth that we are seeing. We need to work to preserve our resources and to work with developers to build affordable housing and not to just cater to the second home buyer. Being in the construction industry and seeing what uncontrolled growth can do to a community, I will use that knowledge to help with this.

Kane: The biggest challenges of this job I foresee are learning how governance supports the needs of the community and working with new people to balance today’s needs with a vision for the future. These challenges can be accomplished with healthy discussions and active community engagement.

Sessions: This is my first time running for public office. I will be on a learning curve, but will take advantage of my existing relationships with current board members, and seek advice and mentorship. I am no stranger to town politics. I have attended dozens of meetings as a citizen.  

Folks have many questions, complaints, and concerns they hope I can address and help with, but I know there is a process to follow and progress may be slow.   

Spaulding: One challenge is keeping a small town, a small town. Harrison’s Main Street in size is a limited business area. Some businesses have been long established “on the outskirts” and, of late, small businesses have been popping up here and there, mostly on Route 35. The town has grown some in recent years, several residences have been built, some rebuilt and some for folks escaping big town crime and COVID. As the town grows, like our ordinances and regulations, the town Comprehensive Plan should be frequently revisited and possibly modified, if determined to be “not keeping up” with “progress.” I have heard suggestions about limiting the number of solar farms, storage facilities and cannabis-related business in some manner, perhaps relative to the percentage of and proportionate to the overall town growth. Harrison should continue to be business friendly while keeping in mind it is mostly a residential “burb.”

From my perspective, the number two challenge is more important than my first concern. That is controlling the growth of town government and its range of services similarly – that is, in proportion not only regarding the size in the physical area of the town, but particularly in proportion to its tax base and population — as it grows or does not. With our mixed blessing of property tax garnered from two lakes, Long and Crystal (and other related taxes and fees), this small town has its limitations. The appropriation of funds must be diligently prioritized, with peripheral vision that sees with an eye “down the road” the impact positive and negative resulting from appropriating too much or too little.

I have one other concern which is a challenge and should be a concern of everyone; not just me and that is the cost of educating the young citizens of the town and especially how that funding is expended. Having been brought up in simpler times when teachers were burdened enough with just trying to impart some knowledge of basic math, reading, writing (shouldn’t cursive be taught?), history and geography, why expect “kids” to understand subjects that even many adults have difficulty comprehending? Common sense should prevail, and it is the duty of all of us to allow parents to be parents and make the decisions for their children. Isn’t the “age of consent” still the age of 18?

Q. Finish the following line, “If people vote for me, they will get...”

Densmore: ...They get a focused municipal select person that will be transparent, fair, fiscally conscious and mindful to all residents equally. It is critical that we focus on our future. Our kids, our managed growth, our lakes and environment are our greatest assets. 

Frank: ... A person who cares, does not have a personal agenda, is a hard worker, loves Harrison and wants to continue to make it the absolute best place to live and thrive in the Oxford Hills community. Our “Friendly Village” is the “way life should be.”

Garvey: ...They will get a person who is working for them. Every decision I make and every vote I cast will have them in mind. I will provide transparency and fiscal accountability. They will get someone who understands that the average full-time household makes just over $40,000. I will remember that when making decisions on spending your tax dollars.

Kane: ... A dedicated and enthusiastic resident, passionate about Harrison, willing to work hard to continue the success of our town.

Sessions: ... A hard-working, committed and fair selectman. I am a dad, husband, business owner and taxpayer in our town of Harrison. I want to live and raise my boys in safe, fun and secure community.

Spaulding: ...The voters and my fellow citizens will get a listening ear; a spokesperson, when necessary, a reasonable fellow concerned taxpayer who likes to get the most bang for his buck as much as the next person; and a fellow who “puts his pants on the same way as the next guy!”