CARIBOU, Maine — Residents had an opportunity to learn more about the seven candidates running for three open posts on the City Council during an open forum that was livestreamed Wednesday night from Council chambers. The video also was posted and is available for viewing on YouTube.
Incumbent Nicole Cote was unable to attend the forum, and candidate Sarah McLean showed up so she could announce that she had changed her mind about running.
The five remaining candidates attending were Mark Goughan, Hugh Kirkpatrick, and Kevin St. Pierre along with incumbents Jody Smith and Mayor Gary Aiken. They took turns giving opening statements and then answering questions submitted by residents during the event moderated by Jason Parent.
McLean, a psychotherapist with a private practice in Presque Isle, said that while she was initially “gung-ho about running,” she later realized her involvement in other community organizations would leave her with little time to serve on the City Council.
“I’m Sarah McLean, and don’t vote for me for City Council,” she said, eliciting laughter from attendants. McLean added that she chose to make the announcement at the forum since she was unable to take her name off the ballot for the Nov. 7 election.
Candidates were asked, among other questions, how they would address Caribou’s greatest concerns and needs, how they would go about lowering taxes without cutting essential services, and whether or not arts and culture are important to the city.
Goughan said Caribou’s greatest concern is that it could be growing faster than it is, adding that he sees slow growth as a County-wide concern. He said reversing this trend is the city’s greatest need, and suggested implementing a new system in which citizens are able to bring their problems to the table.
For Kirkpatrick, Caribou’s biggest concern is its aging population, which he said is aging faster than the national average. His solution is to retain local talent, encourage high school graduates to move back, and attract outsiders to Caribou.
Smith said taxes, and how they are spent, are the greatest concern for Caribou, and that the city’s greatest need involves improving the infrastructure, bringing in businesses, and keeping the businesses that are currently in Caribou. He stressed the importance of retaining businesses, adding that Caribou doesn’t gain anything if the city adds one business and loses another.
St. Pierre believes outmigration is among the city’s greatest concerns, adding that Caribou has one of the greatest recreation departments in the area, and that the library also is a great asset. He said that Caribou is a great city, but there needs to be a focus on bringing people back.
Aiken said that, like some of the other candidates, he believes Caribou’s greatest concern is the decreasing population, citing the city’s 2010 population of 8,189 shrinking to 7,736 by 2016. In order to correct that, he said there needs to be an emphasis on economic development. Not just in Caribou, but within the entire state.
As far as lowering taxes without cutting essential services, candidate responses varied, with Smith saying that this is one of the biggest questions in any election. Drawing on his prior Council experience, Smith said that there is such a broad list of services that could be cut, but that 30 different people would have different priorities. Smith said he and his colleagues have been able to maintain a relatively constant tax rate over the past three years, but with so many differing opinions from citizens, it is often difficult to determine how taxes should be spent.
St. Pierre, on the other hand, believes Caribou should be run like a business, and that councilors should look at each department and determine whether or not there is a return on investment. He specifically cited the Nylander Museum when mentioning programs in the city that do not provide a reasonable return, and suggested looking at what is helping people instead of spending money on “fluff.”
Aiken acknowledged that nobody in the group of candidates had mentioned that they want to lower taxes, and that in every election, whether it is municipal, state, or federal, candidates offer a promise of lowered taxes. Aiken added that the budget process is a “juggling act” and that while taxes are rarely lowered, it is not impossible. He suggested consolidating certain municipal positions between communities as a possible method of lowering the tax rate.
Goughan suggested exploring zero based budgeting, a system by which each department starts with a zero budget and all expenses are analyzed and justified when creating a budget for a new period, regardless of whether or not that item is increasing or decreasing from the prior period. He said that this should be combined with a needs assessment on each city program, putting those needs against a cost structure, and then analyzing that cost structure for a return on value without everyone “being at each other’s throats.”
Kirkpatrick acknowledged that while there’s no magic way of lowering taxes, it is typically accomplished by decreasing program funding, increasing revenue, or doing both. He also suggested that implementing new technology could possibly result in lowered costs, and that the city could consider outsourcing certain tasks.
Candidates also presented different perspectives regarding culture and arts in the city.
Kirkpatrick said that at the very least, there is value in the historical significance of Caribou’s culture, and that, at its greatest, cultural locations within the city such as the Nylander Museum and the Performing Arts Center should be leveraged as assets for education, cultural enrichment, and entertainment. He also commended the city’s library director for using the library as a spot for economic development opportunities.
Smith said he values Caribou’s cultural institutions, and that eliminating them would result in the loss of infrastructure as well as what the city can use to draw people into the community.
St. Pierre, however, said he did not see any justifiable reason for the city to provide artistic or cultural centers, and that, as a city, Caribou should focus on services such as keeping the roads clean. He added that while the library is providing a valuable service, it’s not possible to provide everything for everyone, and that a line needs to be drawn.
Aiken said he has some leanings toward culture, and commented on how the Caribou Performing Arts Center is not being used to its full potential. Since the RSU 39 School Board controls the arts center, he said there is nothing the city can do to encourage more events to take place at the facility. He said he would like the school board to lower the costs required to utilize the facility, as he believes it could add great value to the city.
Goughan, while a strong supporter of small government, said he would be receptive to the city supporting a cultural institution such as the Nylander Museum or Performing Arts Center, depending on the results of a needs assessment. He concluded by saying the citizens are ultimately the ones who bring these issues forward, which in turn will help councilors determine the value of each institution.
The candidates also responded to eight other questions on topics such as the importance of having a chamber of commerce, the use of alternative energy, and how to improve the city’s roads, before each delivered a closing statement.
Since she could not attend due to work obligations, Cote’s closing statement was read by Parent before the other candidates delivered theirs.
“I ask that you consider re-electing me for a full term as city councilor,” read Cote’s statement. “I have over 16 years of government experience and each day I assure tax dollars are used appropriately. I am a mom, a military wife, and an active member of the Caribou community. I have been committed to a role in Council for the past seven months, and have a strong desire to help Caribou grow. You will not be disappointed.”
Smith said that, as a lifetime member of Caribou, he’d like to continue to help with the city’s progress.
“I would like to thank everyone for the questions they submitted,” Smith said. “Most of these questions address issues that are not going to be fixed immediately, which leads me to believe those asking are concerned about the future of the city. These issues are being addressed and will be addressed in future. I would like to be a part of that and to continue to serve on Council.
St. Pierre thanked everyone for coming out to “be a part of the process.
“I’m running to see if I can serve the community and help,” he said. “I have experience with teams, and being part of the military taught me to be on a team, and work to accomplish a mission. I will continue with that tenacity. I’m not a believer in jumping in and making a million changes. I believe we should observe, figure out what we could do better, and do it. I’m hoping you stand by me in that mission. Let’s make this town great.”
Aiken also thanked everyone for attending, and told them he didn’t prepare a closing statement beforehand.
“The most important thing is to get out and vote,” he said.”I don’t know what kind of turnout there will be, but I think it’s such a shame when such a small percentage of people go out and vote, and a larger number come out and complain about the results. Before you complain, go out and vote instead. It doesn’t take a long time. I’ve enjoyed the six years I’ve been on Council, and I’m willing to serve another three. One of my goals, if I carry on, will be trying to do something about consolidation in this area with surrounding communities.”
Goughan stressed the benefits of zero based budgeting during his closing statement, and how he believes the system could benefit Caribou.
“Businesses of 30 years ago are mostly gone,” Goughan said, “yet Caribou, as with most Aroostook County communities today, are using the same process of financing local government that we did some 35 years ago. I’m running for Council to sway the pendulum toward a zero based budgeting system. Zero based budgeting is a process, it’s a philosophy to draw out the creativity within a community. Zero based budgeting isn’t about counting lightbulbs. Zero based budgeting isn’t about firing people. With open minds to change, we ourselves can create a more sustainable future with better services for less costs.”
Kirkpatrick thanked Caribou Marketing and Events Coordinator Christina Kane-Gibson for organizing the event, and Parent for acting as moderator before delivering his closing remarks.
“I feel that this was a beneficial exercise to allow for more informed voters,” Kirkpatrick said. “Please get out and vote. The city of Caribou makes it very easy to do. Whether you vote in person or absentee ballot, it’s a process in which you get to elect the person or persons who best represent the vision and direction you feel the community should be headed.”
Caribou’s election is scheduled for Nov. 7 at the Wellness and Recreation Center. Polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots also are available and must be picked up or requested by Nov. 2.
