Woolwich voters have three candidates to pick from for two, three-year seats on the select board. Woolwich elects its town officers Tuesday, Nov. 3. The polls at Woolwich Central School on Nequasset Road will be open from 8 to 8. Absentee balloting has begun.

The select board candidates are Nathaniel Harvey and incumbents Allison Hepler and Jason Shaw.

Wiscasset Newspaper asked them for brief biographies including their involvement in community and professional organizations; and for responses to two questions: Considering the position you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues; and any other thoughts on why they are running.

Harvey grew up in Woolwich, attended Woolwich Central School and graduated from Chop Point School in 2004. He’s employed as a purchasing agent for CED Gilman Electrical Supply in Brunswick.

In 2012, Harvey was the Sagadahoc County delegate for the Republican National Committee. He lives with his family on Ambrose Drive.

On the three most pressing issues, Harvey responded: “There is a significant decline in the community feel within our town, which will only hurt our children because they currently travel outside of the town for most of their extra-curricular activities. We need to work to create a better business environment in our community. I would like to see the financial tax burden of home/property owners decrease and I believe that having more businesses in Woolwich can make that possible.

“There needs to be more transparency with town meetings, not everyone can be present on a weekday at 6 p.m., but if we used technology, we could bring the meeting to them.” 

Harvey stated he took out his nomination papers because, “I believe that there is a large demographic of young families who do not have a voice within our current system. We need a voice that includes the views of the town as a whole, not just an individual. It is our job to create a better future in Woolwich for all generations. We need to change, from the go with the flow mentality and move towards a more critical way of looking at what is set before us. I have hope that the people of Woolwich can someday know that the select board works for them.”

Hepler is seeking her fourth term on the board and concurrently seeking a second term in the state legislature as the District 53 representative serving Woolwich, Dresden, Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg and part of Richmond.

Hepler is a history professor at University of Maine at Farmington. She has a B.A. in journalism and PhD in history. She has served on a number of committees, including Woolwich Historical Society, the planning board and the special events committee. She’s also a board member of Patten Free Library and Maine’s First Ship, both located in Bath, and a board member of Age-Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec.

“The select board’s been working with Kennebec Estuary Land Trust on a plan to upgrade the salt marsh north of Route 1 down by the dike at the bottom of George Wright Road. This developed out of the need to upgrade the culvert there which has been eroding due to increased wave action created after (Bath Iron Works’) mitigation plan resulted in opening up the marsh 20 years ago. The town cannot afford to replace this structure, so we are working with Maine (Department of Transportation) and KELT to develop an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative,” she explained.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our priority was to continue conducting town business while keeping our staff and residents safe. With the help of the state and the Maine Municipal Association, the select board developed plans for holding remote board meetings, for continuing to provide services for residents, and eventually for planning and holding the marijuana public hearing and our town meeting,” wrote Hepler.

Hepler stated in order to maintain tax fairness, every municipality must periodically conduct a revaluation of all its properties. “Woolwich has managed to keep its ratio of sales to value fairly steady for many years but it’s time to hold a revaluation, which will occur over the next two to three years. If done well, it will serve us for many years,” she stated.

Hepler concluded by saying she’s running for re-election because she loves Woolwich. “When people ask why I don’t live closer to my work, my answer is, I love my job and I love where I live. I enjoy finding answers for people seeking to start a new business, or how and where to vote, or how they can get involved in town business.” Hepler lives on Montsweag Road.

Shaw is seeking a fourth term on the select board. He’s the general manager and treasurer of Jack Shaw and Sons Inc., a general contractor on Old Stage Road. A graduate of Wiscasset High School, he attended the University of Maine in Orono where he studied civil engineering. He has worked in his family’s excavation and construction business for over 30 years.

Before being elected to the select board, Shaw served 21 years on the planning board. He has also served on the Nequasset Meeting House committee, and been a Woolwich Day organizer and a board member of Woolwich Historical Society.

Shaw began with comments on the recently approved marijuana ordinances. “A volunteer committee drafted the four ordinances, the town attorney oversaw the drafts, and the select board organized and conducted a public hearing on them under COVID-19 restrictions,” he wrote. “Now that the ordinances have been approved, the select board is working with the planning board to ensure their consistent implementation. We want to make sure we’re following the state rules and also meeting the needs of the businesses (and) their customers, as well as townspeople,” he stated.

Shaw explained the select board’s role is to balance the needs and wants of the community against the fiscal burden on the taxpayers.

“We’ve been able to expand some needed services, such as EMS, while keeping tax increases to a minimum. The select board will be developing plans for a major revaluation of all town properties in the next two years. This will involve a major outlay of funds, planning, and organization, but it will serve us well for many years and result in more property tax fairness,” he added.

“As stewards of the town’s historic properties and industries, the select board has been able to use proceeds from the town’s alewife harvest as a way to maintain buildings such as the Nequasset Meetinghouse and the Old Town House. In addition to making major repairs, we’re blessed with a dedicated group of volunteers who have devoted hours to making the buildings more comfortable so the public can enjoy them.”

Shaw said he enjoys problem solving and all the work that goes beyond the board’s twice monthly meetings. “I’m very accessible and will always return phone calls or emails. We’re lucky to have the staff we have to run our elections, and all of the other services. We’re also fortunate to have an exceptional fire/rescue service. Our EMS service in particular over the past year has done a great job.”

Absentee ballots for the general election are available at the town office. Registered voters may request an absentee ballot up until Oct. 29. Absentee ballots can be returned by mail, placed in the drop box at the municipal building, or in person up until the polls close on Election Day. Please contact the town office at 442-7094 if you need assistance or want to register to vote.