Two longtime locals set sights on Penobscot select board seat
A former fire chief and a familiar face once known at Penobscot’s general store are vying for the town’s open select board seat. Read our Q&A with the candidates.
Feb. 17, 2026
By John Boit
One seat on the Penobscot select board is up for grabs this year, and two candidates—Vivian Turner Welts and Scott Ferden—are vying for the three-year position. The Rising Tide asked each candidate the same set of questions to learn more about their backgrounds, a sense of what issues are most important, and how they might lead. Their responses have been lightly edited for clarity. The town’s election is Monday, March 2.
Vivian Turner Welts with her husband, Keagan. Photo courtesy of Vivian Turner Welts.
Vivian Turner Welts
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I grew up in North Penobscot. I am one of five children. I graduated from George Stevens Academy in 1996. I helped raise four step children ranging in age now from 21–31. I worked at the Penobscot Nursing Home for 17 years from 2000-2017. Then I worked for the MacNair family at Northern Bay Market from 2017-2024. These days I usually see people while I’m cleaning at the post office. I live in West Penobscot with my husband Keagan Welts, a dog (Roxy) , and two cats (Mabel and Phillip).
Why did you decide to run for select board?
I am running for select board because I believe that if you can serve your community, you should. I am now in my second term on the finance committee and can see that one of the continuing issues for some committees is a lack of participation. I’m used to working in a team environment, and I believe that for a great team to thrive you need both similarities and differences in experiences. I think I have enough of those things to fit in well as a teammate to select board members Harold Hatch and Sara Leighton.
Taxes are always on voters’ minds. Do you think Penobscot needs a larger or smaller budget , or should it remain the same?
No one likes paying taxes, myself included. Sometimes our town gets opportunities that could raise the budget for one year, but we get a lower budget the next one. I think the current select board has done a great job helping to get various grants to alleviate the burden on taxpayers while getting things done. I think the reality of our budget is that it goes up and down from year to year.
Do you think the dump or town office should be open more days of the week ?
I think it would be more convenient for some residents. If that was something the town wanted to consider, I would keep in mind that would mean spending more on utilities and staffing.
Would you like to see more commercial enterprises set up in businesses in town?
If it was a business that would benefit our town, then absolutely. If it had a business plan that proved longevity without disrupting the spirit of Penobscot, I would not oppose it. If it were to generate tax dollars and provide jobs for residents, I would be intrigued.
How will you ensure that town government is transparent and that your actions are communicated with the town -particularly for residents who cannot attend meetings in person?
I can assure the voters that the current selectboard members are committed to transparency . That is a word that I have heard at every meeting. I have watched them stop to make sure a certain item was included in that week’s notes. If you go to the town page they list upcoming meetings of all committees so people can attend, as well as upcoming agendas. I look forward to being a part of the team continuing their effort to keep residents informed of the things they are working on, now and in the future.
What infrastructure priorities do you believe the town should focus on over the next 3-5 years?
Most voters I sat down with while out getting my signatures have issues with the roads but understand that is an ongoing issue living in our climate. I wish I had an answer for that one. The Toddy Pond watershed is still in its infancy and I think we need to be committed to being supportive of this project to safeguard Penobscot’s interests.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to say thank you to [outgoing select board member] Phil Rapp for serving our community so diligently and respectfully. It is an honor to be running, and both candidates have the best interest at heart for this town.
Scott Ferden. Photo by John Boit.
Scott Ferden
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I was born and raised in Milbridge. My parents moved to Penobscot when I was in the fourth grade. I pretty much have lived here most of my life, although I’ve come and gone a few times. I raised my son by myself. I worked as a whitewater raft guide and whitewater kayak instructor for many years. I started my own business, Tractor Works, doing landscape construction. Then I started doing custom furniture. Now I run Dirt Works, and I still do custom woodworking. I also teach mechanical design and drafting at Maine Maritime Academy.
Why did you decide to run for select board?
I was in the fire service forever, not just in Penobscot but other places, and then I was the chief at the Penobscot Fire Department. I stepped down because it was time for the next generation to start learning the ropes. That’s when I really started to see that the town was going to have some difficulties in the future. I think the town, in order to survive, has got to grow with controlled growth. Trying to keep Penobscot the quaint little town, where we don’t want any changes, is not going to help anybody. We’ve got to get some younger generations in here with their families. We’ve all seen the school population dropping every year, but our taxes keep going up to pay for that school.
Do you support residential growth, commercial growth, or both?
Both. Residential growth is not going to grow without commercial growth. There need to be more businesses in town. We have a general store, and we have some contractors. I don’t know what other businesses could be brought to town, but I would totally support more commercial development. I went to Orland’s old school where they have a community center with small businesses. Something similar here would be incredible.
Taxes are always on voters’ minds. Do you think Penobscot needs a larger or smaller budget, or should it remain the same?
I think they’re always going to go up. The cost of living is always going up. We’ve got some big projects, such as moving the salt shed. People hate to talk about downsizing the school, but it’s going to happen. If I could wave a magic wand, Brooksville, Penobscot and Sedgwick would all be combined. We all have very low enrollment, but still have a lot of money going out. The days of having six or seven kids in a classroom need to be over.
Do you think the dump or town office should be open more days of the week?
Both of them should be open more. The dump should probably be open one extra day a week. The town office needs to be open five days a week, or at least four, with regular hours. Being open one night a week is fine for people who don’t work or are retired, but for those of us who work, trying to remember what night of the week it’s open and then schedule everything else to get there is tough.
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?
I’ve never felt that something was being hidden. If somebody has a question, they can always write a letter or an email. I think there should be somebody taking notes at meetings, such as the clerk or secretary, and then post those meeting notes on the town website. Even if no decisions have been made, it should be posted that this is what was discussed. Then if somebody wants more information, they can make the effort to find out more.
What infrastructure priorities do you believe the town should focus on over the next 3-5 years?
The town roads that belong to the town are in pretty good shape. But one thing that’s going to have to be addressed is some of the private roads that are not maintained well enough for emergency services. Split Rock Way is one. We are not bringing a fire truck down that road, especially in the wintertime, but there are full-time residents down there.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’ve kind of come and gone a few times, but I’m here to stay. I just want to see Penobscot and the town grow. I think it does need to grow, mainly for tax purposes. We need to bring in more tax money.
