By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

WATERFORD — With John Bell vacating his Waterford Select Board seat, two candidates — Frank Damon and Jamie Toohey — will look to take on the three-year post.

The election will take place on Friday, March 5 with voting from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Waterford Town Office. Absentee ballots are available at the town office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through, or request one to be mailed by contacting the town office at 583-4403.

Town reports are also available, either to be picked up at the town office or a digital copy is available on the town website (waterfordmaine.org). The annual town meeting is set for Saturday, March 6, 9 a.m. at the fire station. 

“Seating will be spaced to allow everyone at least 6-feet physical distancing and will be limited to 50 people in the fire station,” according to the town website. “Overflow will watch remotely from the meeting room with a runner to convey vote counts, or raise questions/comments.”

The Newsreached out to candidates Damon and Toohey, and posed the following questions (responses by alphabetical order):

BN. Why did you decide to run?

Damon: Even before retiring, I always looked for ways to give back to my hometown and communities around it. Doing school assemblies or being involved in local events while home visiting family. When a position opened up on the Select Board, I knew with my unique experiences and strengths, this was one of those ways to give back to the community that contributed to the type of person I am today.

Toohey: I want to give back to this incredible community that my family has called home for nearly 20 years. Although this election may seem inconsequential to some, these municipal elections matter. Select Board members are responsible for making important decisions that affect the town’s infrastructure, personnel and townspeople. As a former educator in our local schools, I am aware of the concerns and struggles that many of our townspeople face, and I’m confident my leadership skills will complement the existing Board in trying to navigate them. I bring diversity of thought and experience that’s essential to any successful team, and I’m excited to contribute to our town’s prosperity. 

In Waterford, we are blessed to have neighbors who look out for one another, something that has proven essential during this pandemic. It is in this same spirit of neighbor helping neighbor that I have chosen to put my name on the ballot. I hope to be a unifying voice and will work in the best interest of all Waterfordians. 

BN. What strengths do you feel you would bring to the position?

Damon: There are several strengths that I can bring to this position. Leadership/communication: I have 20 years of military service in the United States Air Force with extensive experience leading and supervising some of the finest Airmen. 

Problem-solving/Open-minded: I believe when you are trying to solve a problem you have to go into it with an open mind. I realize I am not an expert on everything, but I guarantee that I will utilize every possible avenue to produce the best possible outcome for the town.

Availability: A selectman should be able to be there for the town and its residents more than just a couple of meetings a month. With me being retired, I have the ability to be at the town office every week to meet with and assist fellow town residents in person. 

Toohey: Stephen Covey said, “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.” I enter into conversations in this way. We all have different perspectives based on our experiences. Your perspective may differ from mine, and that’s okay; it doesn’t make them wrong. This diversity is healthy, necessitates checks and balances, and allows for sound decision-making. In this light, perhaps my biggest strength is my ability to actively listen and to find common ground, especially during these polarizing times. I view conflict as an opportunity to find mutually agreeable solutions and to best understand what is at the root of the concern. 

Unfortunately, our recent political environment has not modelled collaborative decision-making. I’m convinced the residents of Waterford can look beyond our differences of opinion to find win-win situations to benefit the entire community. This will serve us in the here and now and also benefit future generations. 

BN. What do you feel are the biggest challenges/issues facing the town at this time (and why)?

Damon: There are two issues I believe the town is facing. The first one being the town is slowly losing its small-town ways. I believe we are starting to run the Town of Waterford too much like a corporation and have forgotten that it’s not just a dollar amount in a box on a spreadsheet. We need to also realize there is a person, family or neighbor behind that number. 

The second issue is, I feel, the town does far too little for the youth of Waterford. Since Covid-19, the town has suspended the sports and recreation program. With new and ever-changing parameters, that program should be brought back ASAP. There needs to be more outside of the box type of thinking during the pandemic and this especially includes getting our kids additional activities to do.

Toohey: This pandemic has left a lot of people in our community out of work, and they are looking for alternative means to get their basic human needs met. While the Select Board has a lot to juggle including managing our town’s infrastructure, ensuring responsible spending, and managing personnel, these operational responsibilities need to be balanced with looking out for the entirety of our town. 

When you sign on to be a member of the Waterford Select Board, you are also signing on to be an Overseer of the Poor. I think this is where some significant concerns lie for our townspeople currently. 

BN. When it comes to making decisions on major issues, what would be your approach?

Damon: The military has instilled in me three major values that I approach every decision with: “integrity first” - every single decision will be made with honesty and strong moral principles; “service before self”- means every decision I make will be made with the best interest of the town as a top priority; final value is “excellence in all we do” which means every single thing I do will be done to the best of my ability.  

Toohey: Making decisions on major issues requires research, understanding, and perspective. First, I would seek out the data points and facts related to the issue. Next, I would request input from residents and really listen so I could understand the full picture and extent of their concerns. From there, I would consider all feasible options and their associated impacts. Each time I would ask myself: How might my decision affect my constituents, both individually and collectively? I realize my approach takes time, but I prefer to gather all relevant information and then tackle challenges head on with my colleagues. I guess you could say I’m practical and methodical, not reactive. 

BN. Do you feel people in small towns are informed regarding town matters, and how can communication be improved?

Damon: I think communication is one of the top priorities for any town’s success. In Waterford, it could be improved. One of the ways we can do this is by having more availability to the town decision-makers. Another being social media, while I realize not all town members have social media accounts, it can still be an asset to town communication if used more.

Toohey: A lot of people are informed about town matters, but many are not. Sometimes, people think they have the full story, when in fact, they don’t. In this sense, if we’re not at the table making the decisions, we may hear only bits and pieces. Effective communication is key, and I think that as residents, we have a responsibility to seek out information. We can attend meetings, ask for clarification from our Select Board members, and advocate for transparency. As a Selectman, I will have an “open-door policy” and encourage people to reach out to me personally to discuss issues that are important to them. Getting information straight from the horse’s mouth is really important to me, and I want to be a voice for all Waterford residents. 

BN. What do you like most about the Town of Waterford?

Damon: The sense of community is the thing I love most about the Town of Waterford. Living here you feel like you are a part of one big family. 

Toohey: I love the people of Waterford and the sense of community I feel. While on the campaign trail, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many amazing, supportive people who live here and care about our small town. And, I have become keenly aware of how talented we are as a community. We have artists, entrepreneurs, mechanics, stay-at-home moms and dads, farmers, writers, business owners, teachers, retired veterans, and the like. I enjoy bringing diverse people together, and my hope is that more people will become involved in our community because they, too, care and have much to offer. 

BN. Final comment — Use this opportunity to either make a final statement regarding your candidacy or any else you might want to tell voters.

Damon: Waterford has always been my home even while serving my country. Once I retired, I knew this was the community I wanted to raise my two boys in. If elected, I will work my hardest every day to preserve our small-town way of living while trying to help the town continue to grow.

Toohey: I’ve lived in Waterford since 2004. It’s because of this that I’m so committed to serving our community. In my 14 years in the school district, I focused on preparing our youth for adulthood and contribution. Now it’s time for me to stretch myself and contribute in a new and meaningful way. As your Select Board member, I promise to listen with an open mind; make sound, informed decisions; and ensure your tax dollars are spent wisely, whether that be on infrastructure projects, preservation of our natural assets, or town services. You can vote on that! #workingforwaterford