Orono candidates discuss goals

ORONO – Candidates for the Town Council and the school committee shared their intentions at a “Meet the Candidates Night” Tuesday night in council chambers.

The contemporary issues class at Orono High School organized the event and students Ian Averill and Michael Tipping-Spitz served as co-moderators.

Candidates for the two open council seats were Scott Thomas, Geoff Gordon and incumbent John Bradson. Frances Newbauer and Tracey O’Connell were each seeking support for the single open seat on the school committee.

Speaking first, Bradson noted the economic development projects he has been involved with on the council during the last three years, including the advent of Envisionet and the nearing completion of the Orono Technology Park.

“I realize economic development must be balanced with sensitivity,” Bradson said.

Bradson said his priorities included the creation of a new public library and a new auditorium for both the middle school and the high school.

Thomas served two terms on the council beginning in 1988 and said he was running because he missed being involved with the council.

Thomas said he was not a “one-issue candidate,” and added that he was fiscally conservative.

“I’m concerned with getting every bit of use out of our hard-earned tax money,” Thomas said.

Gordon said he had wanted to increase his activity in the community, and has attended many of the public meetings over the last six months.

“We have to recognize we can’t do everything we’d like to do,” Gordon said. “We have to make priorities.”

O’Connell has two children in Orono schools and has worked with kids over the last 20 years, most recently as a middle school counselor in Old Town.

“I’m really interested in putting the kids first,” O’Connell said.

A resident for 36 years, Newbauer said towns often come to be identified by the schools within them. She added that she would be well prepared to advocate for important issues in the schools.

“I, too, know education from the two sides of the desk,” Newbauer said.

The municipal election will take place on Tuesday, March 12, at the municipal building.

In a special council meeting earlier in the evening, council members passed orders to study renovations and additions to existing buildings in the town.

The first order authorized an application for a Community Development Block Grant-Community Planning Grant for $10,000 to conduct an architectural study for the rehabilitation and renovation of the Birch Street School. The public facility currently houses the Orono Thrift Shop. If chosen for the grant, the town and the Orono Health Association will contribute a combined $3,000 to the study.

A second order will allocate $3,000 to study the feasibility of constructing a new library on the rear of the municipal building. The town library is currently located at the high school. Council Chairwoman Lianne Harris noted that the Byer Manufacturing Co. building remains the first choice for a new library.