Al Searles vies for empty Kennebunk selectmen’s seat (Printed Feb. 15, 2008)
Albert (Al) Searles
54
15 Portage Way
Occupation: Landscaper
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name: Bobbi
Children: Six and three grandchildren
Education completed: High school
Name and location of school or university last attended: Wells High School
Past political experience: Fifth year budget board, charter commission and ran for selectman in 2006 and 2004
Top three issues: (in order of priority)
1. Funding our local government at a level that retains our public safety and services and at the same time respects the obvious fact that many of us here in Kennebunk have reached the limit as to what can be added to our property tax bills. Everything must be on the table. What we fund as well as how much we fund and how we raise the funding. The coming school consolidation is going to cost us millions; there will be no savings for us.
2. Tax Increment Financing. When is adding to these districts too much? When does it negatively affect the level of property taxes that goes into the general fund to pay for the town’s expenses and needs? There must be a point where the added property tax revenue from added valuations helps to offset increases in our mil-rate. We need to be very careful about how we spend these funds. They must be used to avoid bonding infrastructure improvements and then dumping the bond payments into the taxpayers lap.
3. Charter improvements: Improvements that will make our local government more streamlined, allow for greater voter representation on the municipal budget and above all provide the people with the proper checks and balances along with an avenue to over-ride the selectmen with a majority vote of the people at referendum when the people are convinced an over-ride is necessitated by the actions of the board.
In your own words, why are you seeking elected office?
I believe it is very important that a Board of Selectmen has a well rounded makeup of community members that represent all aspects of townspeople. Currently and in recent years I have felt that our board has not met this requirement. We have now 2 business owners, a third who may as well be and a retired Postal worker. Ms.Huston who just resigned also is a business owner. The simple citizen needs a voice on this board. I can be that voice. We need someone who looks at things in a different light, who has fresh ideas, looks for alternatives to the norm. Someone who is not afraid to change the way some things are done, not afraid to grab the boat and rock it up good now and again. Kennebunk is facing some stiff challenges and hard choices this year and in the years ahead. I get satisfaction from telling people about our town and our way of life. I want to help provide the leadership that takes us forward and assures us that Kennebunk will always be a town people can be proud to live in.
54
15 Portage Way
Occupation: Landscaper
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name: Bobbi
Children: Six and three grandchildren
Education completed: High school
Name and location of school or university last attended: Wells High School
Past political experience: Fifth year budget board, charter commission and ran for selectman in 2006 and 2004
Top three issues: (in order of priority)
1. Funding our local government at a level that retains our public safety and services and at the same time respects the obvious fact that many of us here in Kennebunk have reached the limit as to what can be added to our property tax bills. Everything must be on the table. What we fund as well as how much we fund and how we raise the funding. The coming school consolidation is going to cost us millions; there will be no savings for us.
2. Tax Increment Financing. When is adding to these districts too much? When does it negatively affect the level of property taxes that goes into the general fund to pay for the town’s expenses and needs? There must be a point where the added property tax revenue from added valuations helps to offset increases in our mil-rate. We need to be very careful about how we spend these funds. They must be used to avoid bonding infrastructure improvements and then dumping the bond payments into the taxpayers lap.
3. Charter improvements: Improvements that will make our local government more streamlined, allow for greater voter representation on the municipal budget and above all provide the people with the proper checks and balances along with an avenue to over-ride the selectmen with a majority vote of the people at referendum when the people are convinced an over-ride is necessitated by the actions of the board.
In your own words, why are you seeking elected office?
I believe it is very important that a Board of Selectmen has a well rounded makeup of community members that represent all aspects of townspeople. Currently and in recent years I have felt that our board has not met this requirement. We have now 2 business owners, a third who may as well be and a retired Postal worker. Ms.Huston who just resigned also is a business owner. The simple citizen needs a voice on this board. I can be that voice. We need someone who looks at things in a different light, who has fresh ideas, looks for alternatives to the norm. Someone who is not afraid to change the way some things are done, not afraid to grab the boat and rock it up good now and again. Kennebunk is facing some stiff challenges and hard choices this year and in the years ahead. I get satisfaction from telling people about our town and our way of life. I want to help provide the leadership that takes us forward and assures us that Kennebunk will always be a town people can be proud to live in.
Comments