By Suzanne Hodgson

Staff Writer

In Kennebunkport, the incumbents reign supreme: No residents have returned papers for one school board and two board of selectmen seats that expire next month.

Selectmen Sheila Matthews-Bull and Michael Weston are running as incumbents and Norm Archer will run again to keep his school board seat.

“I think it’s too bad there aren’t more people interested,” Weston said. “Only two people running and two slots open, it’s just too bad.”

Matthews-Bull has a different perspective.

“It’s easier to be apathetic than it is to be energetic,” she said. “If one of us weren’t doing our jobs, or there was a different controversy, we’d probably see people step up to the plate, but things are running smoothly.”

Both candidates agree the board’s ability to work well together is one reason they are running again.

“We can disagree on items and still be friends and nobody takes things personally. We’re all looking to do the best thing for the town,” Weston said.

Matthews-Bull said she ran for the board three years ago to be a voice for the business community and it worked out so well for her, she’s running again.

Kennebunkport’s big issue now is Goose Rocks Beach, said both candidates. While they want to keep the beach open to the public, Matthews-Bull said she understands property owners’ desire to maintain their quality of life by limiting access to the general public.

“Sometimes you get a few rotten apples. It’s like running a business, 99 percent of people you work with are wonderful, don’t let that one percent change your attitude,” Matthews-Bull said.

Both candidates also have projects they would like to see the town accomplish.

Matthews-Bull said she would like buses or recreational vehicles once again allowed in the Kennebunkport public parking lot.

“I’d like to work toward more sidewalks and bike paths to make the town – other than downtown area – more pedestrian friendly,” Weston said. “We have many people on bikes and some areas are not exactly safe.”

Weston said he also wants to keep Consolidated School open in Kennebunkport, the last school in the town.

“I would do everything I can to keep a school in Kennebunkport,” Weston said.

Archer agrees.

“It’s imperative we keep Consolidated open,” he said. “It’s important to keep a building like that in every town.

This will be Archer’s third year on the school board, and the third time he has run unopposed.

He felt disconnected to what was taking place in the school system until his children enrolled in school, he said. As they grew, he began to feel an obligation to help in the district and so he ran for school board.

Archer said there will be lots of opportunities for help during the next few years as the board takes on a number of issues affecting the entire district, including the Thornton Academy Middle School contract and strategic planning study.

“I feel if we have a better product, break the contract,” Archer said. “Three towns make up one district. Sending kids two towns away is inefficient and costly.”

Archer said he understands some people may think their towns got “a raw deal” in the district consolidation two years ago but said he has every reason to believe students can get a good education by staying in the district.

This year’s board is taking on a new approach to keep great education without micromanaging the individual schols, Archer said.

“Historically the board has been too involved in the day-to-day running of the district,” Archer said. A strategic planning committee, with Archer as a member, is currently working on a plan for the district to follow over the next five years.

Archer said he is particularly proud of two things that have happened in his tenure on the school board: hiring Superintendent Andrew Dolloff and improving communication with the public.

“One of the biggest things we accomplished was the public input section,” Archer said. Every school board meeting includes time set aside for the public to make comments.

Archer said there is still room for improvement in communication, including posting more up-to-date data on the district’s website.

Elections will take place at the same time parties choose their candidates for fall general elections,  Tuesday, June 8, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Village Fire Station.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.