Address: Westport Island

Occupation: Retired adult educator, after over 35 years helping adult learners have a second chance at success by getting their GED (or HiSET) or improving skills to be college and/or career ready

Education: B.A, M.Ed. from Augusta State University, Augusta, Georgia 

Political History (Board, committees, other): Election clerk, chair of Westport Island Horticulture Committee; secretary of Westport Island Conservation Commission; past secretary of Westport Island Shellfish Committee

Clubs/Organizations: Past president and retired editor of the Adult Numeracy Network (which supports adult education math teachers); member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; director of Westport Island Community Association

Considering the office you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues (350 words or less): My father was a career soldier, so I lived in many different places. When I moved to Westport Island 27 years ago, I realized this is where I want to spend the rest of my life. That’s why I am running for the selectboard. Until I recently retired, I volunteered on committees as time allowed. I joined the Shellfish Committee to learn how people earn a living on the mudflats and I helped to ensure that the flats would keep producing clams. I worked with a team of energetic citizens to beautify the Ferry Landing. Now I’m retired; I realize that serving as a selectwoman will allow me to “volunteer” to an even great extent – giving back to the community that I care about.

Over the past two months, I have had the privilege of meeting many people on the Island as I have walked from one end of the island to the other. In doing so, I have found some consistent concerns. First, Islanders want the Selectboard to preserve the Island’s rural character, in line with the goals in the WI Comprehensive Plan. In maintaining our natural resources, we should establish a committee to focus on our precious water resources, to ensure that our aquifers remain uncontaminated.

Many Islanders are feeling isolated, in part because of COVID. I would like to see the town offer more open meetings and opportunities to people to gather to learn more about our commonalities while respecting our differences. Related to the isolation issue is the need for more transparency in our town government. This can be addressed by ensuring that all selectboard meetings are open and welcoming, that citizens are encouraged to voice their opinions, and that meetings are taped.

Before retiring, I was the director of the Adult Numeracy Center where I had to write grants and proposals and was responsible for a budget of over a million dollars. Adult education is a small field with limited resources, so I knew how to make each dollar count. I would bring that same sense of fiscal responsibility to the position of selectwoman.

Any other thoughts on why you are running or what you can bring to the office? (150 words or less): I have worked with a variety of people throughout my career. I have had to work directly with funding agencies such as state departments of education, teachers, and adult learners. No matter who the individual is, I have found that it is critical to be able to listen as objectively as possible and to respect others’ opinions. Just because I was a teacher did not suggest that I had all the answers. As adults, we all have experiences that impact how we react in the world. I try to start with those experiences to find a middle ground so that we can move forward together. I believe my philosophy in working in adult education will apply just as readily when working with the Westport Island community.