When Sheridan Bond was 11 years old, he was given a list of things he could and couldn't do because of his diabetes.

His dream of being a Navy pilot was gone. Seven years after being diagnosed, he signed up to be drafted anyway, only to be listed “4F” because of his condition.

But that couldn't stop his desire to serve his community.

The three-term incumbent Lincoln County Commissioner said he always focused more on what he could do.

“The doctor gave me a list of things I could do and a list of things I couldn't do,” he said. “My mother helped me overcome a lot of that. She said that if I can't serve my country, I could still serve my community. So that's what I did – I found a different way to serve.”

Bond, R-Jefferson, is running for a fourth term as Lincoln County Commissioner against challenger Mary Trescot, D-Damariscotta.

District 3 covers the towns of Alna, Damariscotta, Dresden, Hibberts Gore, Jefferson, Newcastle, Somerville and Whitefield.

Bond, who runs Bond Brothers Hardware, has been involved with the Jefferson Fire Department since he was 15. At age 20 he became the town's youngest assistant fire chief, a position he filled for 30 years before becoming fire chief for two years.

He has also served in a multitude of other roles including serving on the Two Bridges Regional Jail board.

Bond said that experience, along with connections through his business, have given him an advantage that has helped Lincoln County.

“I think I am a wealth of information,” he said. “I learn a little more each year; my education is ongoing.

“I think I'm the most experienced person running for this office. I take this job very seriously, and my heart is in everything I do and I want to keep working for the citizens of Lincoln County.”

As a business owner Bond said he feels what a lot of his constituents feel, and tries to run the county like he runs Bond Brothers Hardware.

“A lot of it is the same,” he said. “You have to meet payroll and show up every day.”

Bond said he always tried to improve the county without costing the taxpayers more or adding to the property tax rate.

Using federal and state grants has been a boon to Lincoln County, Bond said.

He said if reelected he would work toward bringing solar energy to Lincoln County. The panels would be in addition to the new lighting systems, which have proven to be cost-effective since their inception, and an ongoing window replacement program that has created energy savings as well as reduced noise in the county buildings, Bond said.

For his next term, Bond said he has big plans on the horizon for the county.

“We're working towards getting all of our ducks in a row to get solar power for the county,” he said. “We feel that technology has improved, it's more reliable and I've researched similar projects in California.”

Eventually a solar field comprised of 14-by-70-foot panels could power up to 50 percent of Lincoln County's municipal buildings. A lot of the money could come from federal grants instead of bonds which would keep taxes low.

“There are grants available because this would be a pilot program,” Bond said. “We have to begin looking at alternatives. The costs are going to keep going up; (heating) oil isn't going to get any cheaper. Electricity isn't going to get any cheaper.”

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.