Brooksville select board candidate outlines priorities

In first contested select board race in 40 years, candidate Linda Gifford says she will keep taxes low. Her opponent declined to answer questions.

Linda Gifford says she will lead with fiscal conservancy. File photo.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For the first time in 40 years, voters in Brooksville have a contested election for a single open seat on the select board. The Rising Tide offered both candidates for the position—Linda Gifford and Shawn Duffy—the opportunity to answer the same list of questions so that voters could hear directly from them about how they would run the town. Gifford provided her responses. Duffy declined. Gifford’s responses are below. The election is March 2, with polls open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Linda Gifford

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I grew up in Maine in a town (Falmouth) that, at the time, was a lot like Brooksville is now. I spent my career years in Readfield, with a title company in Augusta which I started in 1989 and sold in 2019. I have been married for almost 52 years and have two daughters, 36 and 38. One lives in Maine and is a scientist at Jackson Lab. The other is a veterinary surgeon in Virginia and hopes to relocate to Maine. We bought land in Brooksville in 1987 and built a garage/apartment for vacations, then built our permanent home in 2009.

Why did you decide to run for select board?

I grew up in a family that believed in getting involved and giving back. Dad was a volunteer firefighter and school board member and Mom served on several town committees. Brooksville has had a great team of leaders, including select board members, various committee members and office staff. When Richard Bakeman decided to retire, I wanted to be sure his fiscally conservative voice continued to be heard. I believe my education and experience as a real estate attorney makes me able to listen carefully to all sides, apply applicable rules, laws and ordinances, and work toward the best result. As a small business owner I am very attuned to the need to work closely with the office staff which makes everything come seamlessly together. 

Taxes are always on voters’ minds. Do you think we need a larger or smaller budget, or should it remain the same?

It would be great if budgets could always remain the same, but that is just not reality. Sometimes there is a required or environmentally sensitive issue that needs to be addressed (sand and salt shed construction). Sometimes there is an opportunity to access grants that would help preserve a key component of what makes Brooksville what it is (working waterfront enhancements). Sometimes there is a need to create infrastructure which protects peoples’ homes (Cape Rosier fire station). Managing these projects in a fiscally conservative manner by spreading out costs and accessing outside funds is what keeps the budget (and taxes) low.

Do you think Brooksville needs to examine the cost of its school?

Every town in Maine needs to examine the cost of its schools. Unfortunately, the demographics are changing in Maine, leaving schools with low populations, or empty after consolidations. There is no easy answer as, understandably, everyone wants the children of the town educated in the town, and kept close to home. That should be a priority. So far, the school committee has done an excellent job in managing its budget in a way that is affordable for town taxpayers. But will shared expenses need to be looked at in the future? Or consolidation of some services?  Maybe. Probably. The real answer may lie in making Brooksville a place that attracts young families through job and housing opportunities which is easier said than done but should not be overlooked.

The cost of trash is increasing. What can be done about that?

This is probably a problem which is beyond the scope of something that can be taken care of at the local level. There has been so much education about recycling and I think people are mindful of both recycling and choosing less impactful packaging where possible. But, still, trash is created, and the ways of using it or selling it seem to be diminished (except for cardboard and recyclables). I believe the current Blue Hill/Surry transfer station is on top of doing whatever it can to keep costs as low as possible, but if an alternate proposal is floated, it would be studied and evaluated by the board.

Would you like to see more commercial enterprises set up businesses in town?

That depends on the type of business. If it creates jobs, fits in with the character of the town (such as waterfront, tourism, contractor services, farm or forest uses), has longevity (not a fad), proposes a small footprint both physically and environmentally, then the benefits to the town would be obvious and welcome (particularly if young families move in).

How will you ensure that town government is transparent and that your actions are communicated to the town—particularly for residents who cannot attend meetings in person?

Communication is key and leads to transparency. The members of the select board are very available, every week at least once. Anyone can walk in and ask questions, make suggestions or just chat. Or they can email, call or write a letter. Notes are taken at each Wednesday morning meeting and put on the website. I have been going to their meetings since fall and find the atmosphere very open with points of view easily expressed and received. I have been asking lots of questions as I want to learn as much as possible, and have found the board, budget committee chair and members and office staff to be open, patient, willing to teach, and transparent. 

What infrastructure priorities do you believe the town should focus on over the next 3-5 years?

The biggest priorities are already done, or being addressed (see tax and budget question and answer above). The North Brooksville fire station at the end of Varnumville Road needs to be replaced soon. The new Cape Rosier station took priority because no station existed to cover a large part of the town, but now the old one, which covers not only a large portion of Brooksville but also is involved in coverage for neighboring towns, needs to be addressed. Roads are always a concern, and the town has reacted to problem areas as they arise. There is and needs to be a plan to keep on top of unpaved roads on an ongoing basis rather than being purely reactionary. A new road commissioner is in the works, which will be a positive. 

Anything else you’d like to add?

People ask me what I want to accomplish as a select board member. What do I want to change? The answer is nothing. The leadership of the town is great. It has been great for a long time. Nothing needs to change. The town is fiscally conservative, but things get done, fixed and improved. The mil rate for property taxes is incredibly low. There is no need to change that. The leadership of the town under past selectmen (Kip Leach, Hal Snow and most recently, Richard Bakeman) has been strong but conservative. Current selectmen John Gray and Andy Ladd are open and welcoming. I would be honored to follow in their footsteps and look forward to serving.