Elaine Makas

Physical Address: 10 Sheffield Ave., Lewiston, ME 04240

Occupation: Associate Adjunct Professor of Psychology, USM, and Androscoggin County Commissioner

Political Affiliation: Democrat

Androscoggin County District 1: Downtown Lewiston, including lower Lisbon Street, Little Canada and the Main Street corridor

Age: 68

Phone number: 784-5726

Community Organizations: Associate board member of Androscoggin Head Start and Childcare, trustee of Western Maine Labor Council, board member of Bates Alumni Council, house manager of Maine Music Society, board member of Local Workforce Investment Board, associate board member of the Public Theatre

Why are you running for the Androscoggin County Commission? I have been Lewiston’s representative on the County Commission for the past six years, and I am very familiar with how the county benefits our city and how Lewiston benefits our county. I am pleased that the newly expanded commission will include two other individuals who will also serve the citizens of Lewiston, but I feel that my experience as a commissioner is critical to assuring that the interests and needs of the people of Lewiston continue to be strongly represented.

What skills would you bring to the role of commissioner? In addition to my six years as Lewiston’s county commissioner, I also served as one of Lewiston’s state representatives for six years, and on two Lewiston city boards, the Zoning Appeals Board and the Energy Savings Committee. The experiences gained and the contacts made in these various capacities, as well as in other extensive community involvement, have enabled me to access the resources needed to serve my constituents. My education as a social psychologist and as a trained mediator has also proven to be very beneficial in peacefully resolving difficult situations.

Androscoggin County is changing its structure by expanding the commission, and it will soon have a professional administrator. What changes would you like to see the county make? I am delighted that we will soon have a professional administrator. We have an extremely competent and dedicated county staff. However, much of the administrative work is being done by individuals who do not have the authority necessary to make even basic administrative decisions. These decisions currently rest in the hands of the part-time county commissioners. The addition of an individual who will be able to both supervise and approve the day-to-day operations of the county will allow the commissioners to serve in a policy-making capacity and should result in benefits and savings that are extremely difficult to identify with the current patchwork administrative and policy quilt.

E-mail address: elaine@makas.com

Michael Marcotte

Physical Address: 12 O’Connell St.

Occupation: Accountant

Political Affiliation: Republican

Androscoggin County District 1: Downtown Lewiston, including lower Lisbon Street, Little Canada and the Main Street corridor

Age: 52

Community Organizations: Chair, Lewiston Finance Committee, member since 2009; chair, Androscoggin County Budget Committee, member since 2007; member of Lewiston Planning Board since 2009; Central Maine Board of Approved Baseball Umpires

Why are you running for the Androscoggin County Commission? Lewiston needs qualified financial leadership in these tough economic times. We have lost major employers and experienced increased costs for basic services. Budget cuts and increased taxes are not enough. We need to design more efficient government and seek out new employers to generate the incomes necessary to lift our neighborhoods out of the malaise that has encompassed us in recent years. I want to participate in shaping a plan that will produce the desired results.

What skills would you bring to the role of commissioner? I have a four-year degree in business administration and have worked in banking and retail accounting for the past 33 years. Since 2007, I have served on the Androscoggin County Budget Committee, the Lewiston Finance Committee and the Lewiston Planning Board. All of these experiences have provided the framework for understanding how our county government can become a positive vehicle in planning for a vibrant future in the years to come.

Androscoggin County is changing its structure by expanding the commission, and it will soon have a professional administrator. What changes would you like to see the county make? There are 14 municipalities in Androscoggin County. We have an opportunity to provide services beyond deeds, probate and law enforcement that can relieve the financial burden on the towns and cities by taking advantage of economies of scale. By doing so, we can strive to increase job opportunities and improve the quality of life along our river valley.

E-mail address: tpmjm@hotmail.com

The November election will feature more candidates than ever for office in Androscoggin County. Ten people are vying for five open seats on the newly expanded County Commission, joining current commissioners Randall Greenwood and Beth Bell. Beginning today and continuing until Friday, the Sun Journal plans to spotlight two candidates in each of the races.