SEBAGO — When Sebago voters head to the polls on June 11 for the municipal election (polls open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), they will decide upon the following positions:

Select Board, one 3-year term — Candidates Susan Thuotte and Terri Welch.

Budget Committee, two 3-year terms — Karen Wiles, and write-in candidate Richard M. Bianculli (incumbent).

Sebago School Committee, two 3-year terms — Candidates Wendy Newcomb (incumbent) and Jennifer Skinner.

Sebago Cemetery Trustee, one 5-year term — Write in candidate needed.

Dr. Joseph Fitch Potter Trustee, one 7-year term — Joseph McMahon.

Absentee ballots can be requested in person at the Town Office (406 Bridgton Road, Sebago); by phone (207-787-2457); by mail with the absentee ballot application available on the Town of Sebago website (mail to: Town of Sebago, 406 Bridgton Road, Sebago, ME 04029); or online via the State of Maine Election site.

Absentee ballots are available until Thursday, June 6, 2024, unless special circumstances exist. Ballots must be received by the Town Clerk’s Office by 8 p.m. on June 11, 2024, to be counted.

The Spaulding Memorial Library provided the following “Meet the Candidates” profiles:

Select Board Candidates

• Susan Thuotte

Family information: I have lived in Maine my entire life. My family includes my Mom, who turns 94 this year, two brothers and my son. We all reside in Maine. As a child we had a camp in Jordan Bay, which allowed us to enjoy Sebago Lake. We enjoy boating, skiing, hiking and family time.

Work/community/civic experience: I have worked in the insurance industry for the past 40 years. I have held positions leading project teams, operation areas, supporting compliance standards, and implementing state and federal mandates for specific lines of business. I am confident in my ability to lead and deliver results.

I am a Trustee for Sebago Boating Club. I participate in the administration of the club and assist in maintaining the portion of the Rich Memorial Beach in Standish that is used by our members. The Sebago Boating Club organizes events at the beach for our members to enjoy during the summer months. I volunteer as a secretary for the Northwest River Association in Sebago.

I have served on the Town of Sebago Planning Board since April of 2022. I have been involved in reviewing site plans for new applications. I support the application, review and approval process for new homes, subdivisions, new business proposals, and new/expanding business requests. I have enjoyed being part of the Planning Board and participating in the decision making for the town.

Why did you decide to run for office? I decided to run for the Town of Sebago Select Board because I love the town and the people I meet each day. I hear many concerns from the Sebago residents, either directly or via town meetings, and I would like to be part of the Select Board to resolve these concerns. We are a small community and I feel we should be working together to keep this town the best it can be.

What strengths would you bring to this position? How can you help? I am a leader and have driven home many strategic projects in my career. I have formed leadership teams and have led projects that had very successful outcomes. I am highly organized, have great listening skills, and can execute tasks extremely well. I am not afraid of change and will work with whomever I need to deliver the best results for the residents of the town.

Are you willing to attend classes offered by the MMA (Maine Municipal Association) to learn about relevant ordinances, statutes, etc. that govern the board and actions of the board or committee you are running for? I am. I attended a class for the Planning Board that was helpful. The MMA has some highly informative classes that assist in educating every level of leadership in our town.

What are some of your major concerns concerning the town? Do you have possible ideas about or solutions for these? My goals are to increase communication throughout the town and to support ALL residents with fairness and transparency. I am dedicated to working hard to keep the town budgetary needs in line and support all departments, school, and any new ideas to continue to keep the town of Sebago as the great community it is.

Finally, how would you answer a person asking, “Why should I vote for you?” I love Sebago and the people who call Sebago home or their vacation home. I want a community that works together to be successful in creating a welcoming environment. I want to increase communications with all residents and ensure we are spending our tax dollars responsibly. I am honest, transparent, have integrity and want to share my values with this town. It is time for a change and together we can make change happen.

• Terri Welch

Family information: My husband and I are both natives of Portland. Married in 1974, we will celebrate our 50th anniversary this year. We moved to Windham, where we lived for 36 years and raised two children. After my husband started his own building and remodeling business, I became the Office Manager. Our son worked with us until a hand injury led him to start a used car sales and repair business. We entered into a partnership with him, with us, both children and our daughter-in-law working together. Five years later, our son was killed in a terrible car accident, upending everyone’s lives. We helped raise our grandchildren and eventually closed the business. We then bought a very old, fixer upper here in Sebago. It instantly felt like we had lived here all our lives, in a quiet, friendly town. After 12 years, it still feels like our forever home.

Work/community/civic life: All volunteer — Sebago’s Budget Committee (current) , Safety Committee (secretary as a member of the public), Food Pantry, Certified Master Gardener, Richville/Standish Library Kids Harvest (after school program), greenhouse manager at Maine Wildlife Part, Master Preserver USM Extension, Wildridge Garden Club, Oxford Hills Honey Bee Club (beekeeper since 2011) and at Honey Bee table at Fryeburg Fair.

Past volunteer work includes Windham Family Co-op clerk for 20-plus years, starting the Community Emergency Response Team, election worker, helping to write the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance with Natural Resource Commission, president of Collins Pond Improvement Association, during which I secured a DEP permit to rebuild the dam at Collins Pond, organized a volunteer rebuild of the dam, at no cost to Windham taxpayers, and then secured a tax exemption on it. I worked with a group to receive state funding for plowing private roads, helped organize those associations to become town easements and then worked with LEA (Lakes Environmental Association) & COLA (Congress of Lakes Association) and the town. I was involved with the school projects, Boy Scouts, softball and soccer teams and day care and CCD at St. Pius Church.

What strengths do you feel you would bring to this position? I will be bringing all my life experiences, my ability to work well with others, and my willingness to learn when I don’t know something. My work ethic is to work hard, give 100+% and be a good listener.

Are you willing to attend classes offered by MMA? Yes, absolutely. I’m always willing to learn more.

What are some of your major concerns for the town? Do you have possible ideas about or solutions for these?

We know the town of Sebago is going to grow more. We need people and standards in place to help us with this growth. There’s a division in the town, appearing to be two groups. Ultimately, I would like us to be one Team Sebago! For now, more truth through transparency, more communications with the residents and work at building a stronger community.

The budget: Everybody is concerned about their taxes and none of us wants to see anyone taxed out of their home. One way to help offset property taxes would be low impact businesses in line with keeping the rural character of the town. For example, small restaurants, a small hardware store and other small businesses like that.

Finally, how would you answer a person asking, “Why should I vote for you? I will add a positive dynamic to the Sebago’s Select Board. I have been a lifelong volunteer, and I am at a point in my life where I would like to once more serve my community.

Sebago School Committee

• Wendy Newcomb

Family Information: I am married and have four grown children, all of whom went to Sebago Elementary School. I have five grandchildren, ranging in age from 5 to 16. We have lived in Sebago for 37 years. I am a professional artist.

Work/community/civic experience: Board member for Loon Echo Trust for eight years. Volunteered for two years to help our school withdraw from SAD 61. Started SPICE (Sebago Partners in Community Education), which helps to provide enrichment programs and after school activities for the students. School Committee member since 2018.

Why did you decide to run for office? I decided to run again for the School Committee because I want to continue to help our school become more established and to foster its growth into the future. We’re doing great as an independent school, but we can always strive to do better.

What strengths do you feel you would bring to this position? How can you help? I am creative, open minded and a good listener. I’ve enjoyed getting to know parents, students and the staff at the school. Hearing from both citizens and parents of our community is important because they provide a rich resource of experience and ideas. My six years on the committee have provided me with a better understanding of how the school functions and how we can make it ever better.

Are you willing to attend classes offered by MMA (Maine Municipal Association) to learn about relevant ordinances, statutes, etc. that govern the board and actions of the board or committee you are running for? Yes, I have attended symposiums held by the MSMA and other school committee workshops over the years.

What are your some of your major concerns concerning the town? Do you have possible ideas about or solutions for these? I would love to see more of our citizens attend our monthly meetings, participate in some of the school’s activities and those that SPICE creates for the students Getting to know the kids, their parents and the great staff at Sebago Elementary School helps everyone to have a sense of what is going on and also have an appreciation of all the hard work that goes into having a great little school.

Finally, how would you answer a person asking, “Why should I vote for you?” I would like you to vote for me because I take my job as a School Committee member seriously and I sincerely believe that our school is the heart and future of our town. I will do everything I can to make our school the best it can be.

• Jennifer Skinner

Family Information: Married for 10 years, with two small children — Angelina, 6 and Jonas, 3.

Work/community/civic experience: I have worked in the criminal justice field pretty much my entire life. I graduated with honors from Western Wisconsin Technical College with an associate’s degree, Winona State University with a bachelor’s degree and Boston University with a master’s degree in Criminal Justice. I have worked as a private security officer, police officer, TSA Agent and now a 911 Dispatcher. Service to whichever community I am currently living in has always been a top priority to me.

Why did you decide to run for office? Current committee members asked me to run, and after speaking about it with my husband we decided it would be a great opportunity for me to help the school my children will go to for years to come. I have served local and federal governments and would like to continue to serve my community in this local capacity.

What strengths do you feel you would bring to this position? How can you help? Having a background in community service for most of my life will help me work with anyone that comes before the committee. Working with diverse populations throughout my life and career has helped me learn to adapt to most situations and bring about the right outcome. I would like to help the School Committee continue to thrive and adapt to future endeavors with Sebago’s youth.

Are you willing to attend classes offered by MMA (Maine Municipal Association) to learn about relevant ordinances, statutes, etc. that govern the board and actions of the board or committee you are running for? Sure, if it will help me learn and grow within my position on the committee.

What are your some of your major concerns concerning the town? Do you have possible ideas about or solutions for these? The school’s budget is rising again this year and I would like the opportunity to explain to the town why that is. Why this extra money is needed to preserve our little school and what the money will be used for.

Finally, how would you answer a person asking, “Why should I vote for you?” I have lived in Sebago for 8 short years, I am not a true Mainer and I understand that. However, I see myself staying in this town for many years to come. We live in an old 1840s farmhouse that we want to stay in and cherish for years. My children will be going to Sebago Elementary for another six years at least and I want to see that their school is the best it can me. Being on the School Committee will help me see that their future with the school will be bright and filled with a love of learning.

Budget Committee

• Karen Wiles

Family information: I am the mom of two grown kids.

Work/community/civic experience: I was very involved with the school community when my kids were in school. PTC, sports coach, fundraising for multiple groups, both Boys’ and Girls’ Scouts, and helping establish the gardens at Sebago Elementary School. I took a much-needed break when my youngest finished school.

Why did you decide to run for office? I decided to run for Budget Committee because I want to have a better understanding of where my taxes go.

What strengths do you feel you would bring to this position? How can you help? I have ideas, yes.

Are you willing to attend classes offered by MMA? Yes.

What are some of your major concerns concerning the town? Lack of transparency (perceived or real), lack of younger generations getting involved, a 24.8% tax increase in taxes in one year (ouch), and an aging population in town people need to people to pass the baton to.

Finally, how would you answer a person asking, “Why should I vote for you?” I am NOT looking for power of any kind…just a chance to help the town I have resided in for 23 years. Details are my superpower. I will be a voice of the people for financial s