Chandler is a “big believer in education providing opportunities for achieving your personal and professional goals.”
“I’m an example of the non-traditional student,” said Chandler. “I went back to complete my undergraduate education at 35 years old, and have continued to pursue graduate educational credentials and professional certifications.”
These credentials likely influenced the city’s decision to hire Chandler last December as assistant city manager, a salaried position that annually pays $62,837.
Chandler wears many hats, serving as Caribou’s human resources director, code enforcement officer, staff support for the Planning Board, Caribou Emergency Operations Center manager, and serves on the Aroostook County EMA incident management assistance team. In addition, Chandler is coaching the Caribou High School junior varsity baseball team this season.
“In each of these roles, I’ve been learning a lot about the city’s operations, strengths, and opportunities for improvement,” said Chandler.
The newly appointed administrator brings local government experience from Virginia and Wyoming to the table, and says these roles helped with his current position.
“I began working in public service at 15 when I volunteered as an EMT with the local rescue squad,” said Chandler. “I also worked as a police officer and, during that time, I was assigned to local public schools where I coached a number of sports teams. This has all supported my professional and educational goals, and led me to complete my college education and move up through various positions to this position as an assistant manager.”
Chandler says he enjoys his new rural surroundings and the friendly welcome, adding that he doesn’t miss the “traffic, congestion, and attitude of the D.C. metropolitan area.” He enjoys eating at many of the city’s local restaurants, including Frederick’s Southside, Napoli’s, the Par & Grill, Cindy’s Sub Shop, and Burger Boy.
While he has already grown fond of Caribou, Chandler is also aware of the city’s weaknesses.
“I’m learning quickly that the city is challenged with aging infrastructure and a demand for achieving greater efficiencies in providing the public services needed to sustain and grow a community that attracts and retains businesses,” said Chandler. “Coupled with this is a need to provide a healthy environment for the young people that offers them opportunities and reasons to remain or return to Caribou after they complete whatever educational and technical training they choose to pursue.”
To improve on the aforementioned issues, Chandler said that “investment in repairing and maintaining the public infrastructure and services is needed to support a thriving community,” as well as “continuing to work with the economic development council and local chamber of commerce to recruit businesses to Caribou.”
“As the planning and zoning director,” Chandler continued, “I provide staff support to the Planning Board and we’ve been conducting an extensive review and editing of the Caribou zoning ordinances, with the specific goal of editing the land use sections so that they are supportive of development and redevelopment opportunities.”
Chandler’s educational and professional credentials include an associate’s degree in philosophy from Northern Virginia Community College, a bachelor’s in government with a minor in environmental geology from The College of William and Mary, an MPA in state and local government along with a graduate certificate in emergency management and homeland security from George Mason University. Chandler also holds a master professional continuity practitioner level II certificate from FEMA and EMI and is a current member of the Advanced Academy for Emergency Management.
Chandler admits that, since he has only been here for little more than three months, he is still learning about the community’s needs.
“I believe the assets of the county lend themselves to increased opportunities for businesses focused on getting people to visit and enjoy the trail systems, lakes, rivers, and ponds in and around Caribou. I also would like to see the growth of a sports-oriented business for the young people interested in interscholastic athletics.
“Given the climate, if I could create one new business venture this year it would be an indoor fieldhouse that provided athletes young and old with a place to play indoor soccer, flag-football, softball, baseball, lacrosse, and even an indoor golf driving range. I moved from northern Virginia where a number of these types of privately owned operations have been very successful. It would provide both jobs and a place for all age populations to enjoy year-round healthy activities,” he said.
Chandler has been visiting Maine since his early childhood to spend time with family, and hopes that this job will keep him in in the area for the remainder of his professional career.
