How many years have you lived in Maine?: 20

What experiences,  motivations, and leadership styles will make you an effective City Councilor?:
Former member of the Maine House of Representatives, Dist. 32- part of Portland
Years of experience an a manager of a human services agency
Extensive travel in other countries to understand different cultures-a growing issue in Portland.
Actively involved with the Chamber of Commerce as a representative of a non-profit.
Have all of my immediate family living in Portland.  That includes grandchildren.
Great love and appreciation for this city in which my wife and I have chosen to live.  I believe that this is a unique city that needs to preserve its character and attractiveness while at the same time persue an active program of economic development.
Have always used a participatory management model in the management of the agency for whom I work. This is critical in trying to work in the public arena of diverse opinions.

If elected, what would your top three priorities be?  How do they affect Portlander's aged 18-35?:
1. Creating an economic development environmnet in the city that would encourage quality employeersw with quality jobs for talented citizens.

2. Work to streamline governmnet through cooperative and collaborative agreements with neighboring cities and town in order to reduce cost and duplication of effort.

2. Work toward the coordinatio of human and health services in the city in order to insure that the safety net is working and that individual have needs met through methods other than the criminal justice system.

Please share one positive change you have seen on City Council AND in Portland over the last year?:
While I still hear grumbelings about Portland being less than a business friendly city, there has been significant development i the Bayside area that is growing to be a real great "Front Door" for the city.

Please share one frustrating change you have seen on City Council AND in Portland over the last year?:
There does seem to be a tension between two groups on the Council.  I would hope that, while it is good to insure diverse opinions on the council that, as a team, they could work together toward common goals.

What competing responsibilities do you have: professionally and personally?:
I am the Executive Director of Woodfords Family Services and a grandfather of 4 delightful grandchildren who all attend Portland schools.  They have all moved back from Arizona and Hawaii, because of the quality of life in Maine/Portland.  That says something about our city.

Are you a homeowner or a renter?: Owner

Do you support reducing the parking requirements for new construction (Y/N)?: No

Do you support increasing housing density to build more units (Y/N)?: Yes  I strongly oppose sqrawl.

What are you thoughts and ideas about housing in Portland?:
I strongly support the development of a broad range of housing opportunities in Portland.  It is vital to the maintenance of a vibrant urban area and for the growth of a workforce that is within reasonable proximity to their workplace.  I do want to emphasize that the development of low and moderate income housing is a critical part of that picture as that is what the younger, new professionals and technical workers can afford.  They are the key to the workforce for new economic development.

What is your primary mode of transportation?  How can we improve transportation in Portland?:
Along with greater housing density also must go the development of a good public transportation system.  I think that Portland has a long way to go in that catagory and we need to develop that system that is both efficient and is something that people choose to use rathen than using it only as a last resort.  I use an automobile myself only out of the need to do business out of my office whether in Augusta or Waterville or Rockland.  I think that we could encourage light rail service in and out of Portland as well as looking at the possibilities for watr ferrys coming from some of the suburban coastal town.  That might cut down on some ofthe traffic and pollution.

What economic development ideas would you bring to City Council?:
While I think that some thinking has gone into the master plan for the Bayside area, I think that City Council and the Chamber of Commerce need to work together to establish a list of priority business initiatives that can be mutually beneficial to the City and to business.  Once that priority ist has been developed, I think that the Chamber, the City and the various State economic development resources could focus on those priorities for recruitin and development.  That also means that the City will need to work to fast track these developments so that there is a genuine feeling that we want new development here and that we are willing to be supportive.

  It should be said, however, that the City neds to involve neighborhoods in these discussions as they may experience some of the impact of this development and need to participate in decisions that effect their living environment.

How do you think the current Council has processed the Maine State Pier development?:
It has been a rocky process that has seemingly created some factions on the Council.  While I was not privy to the planning on the selection process, I think that, had the rules been clearly defined at the begining, it would have been much easier to come to a fair and equitable conclusion.  I also believe that the process has gotten more media coverage than I would have imagined.  That has not helped the decision making process.

Do you think it is important to increase regional collaboration?  Why or why not?  If so, what would you do to collaborate more?:
(SEE ABOVE)
I believe that there has been some progress through the Council of Governments.  However, Portland must continue to reach out to other neighboring towns and citys to find new ways to work togethr.  Fire, Ploice, schools, waste management, publicc health, human services are all ways we can work together to improve the efficiency of seving our citizens.

What do you think of Portland's overall tax structure, and specifically, about current tax rates?:
Any and every municipality in the state is strapped by a very limited ability to raise revenue.  That is because the State of Maine is very protective of it's taxation options.  Attempts to get local option taxes passed through the Legislature hav all failed of late.  Under toese circumstances, I think that Portland has done an incredible job of trying to keep their taxex under control.
It is also clear that Poarland carries a greater service burden because it supports an Airport, a seaport and is the hub of a whole variety of cultural and entertainment venues that are veisted by many people from surrounding towns but from whom ther is no contribution os support.
Having lived in a umber of different areas of the country, it is my perception that the citizens of Portland have access to an enoumous range of services that you would not get in other cities of comparable size.  It should be understood by our citizens that these things are not free and that these services are subject to the same economic factors as are yu and I: cost of living.  While it won't be popular in other places, I think that we should be looking at some sort of regional tx system that will help to spread the cost of government and services to those that use it and that is more than just the citizens of Portland.

What do you think Portland should do to encourage the arts and the creative economy?:
This may sound crazy but the major thing that artists need is a place to show their work.  Would the development of the once Public Market building into a showplace for young artists be something that would stimulate Portland as a center supporting artistic growtn .

What role do you think neighborhoods, and neighborhood associations, should have in our city?:
I believe that they are a critical part of the unofficial governance of our city.  They can help the City/Concil keep in touch with the concerns of the neighborhoods and, given the proper information, be a great help in promoting positive change in the neighborhoods.

What specific steps do you think Portland can make to become a more sustainable city and to safeguard a healthy environment?:
More urban housing to reduce the need for commuters.
Better public transit.
More small urban parks and green areas.
Clean ecenomic development.
Enriched public health capability.
Enriched educational systems from childcare through post secondary education.

This could go on and on as there are many things that need to happen.  Regardless, we need to keep the quality of life in Portland as the standard to maintain in order to keep it a a plce where people want to live and work.