BETHEL — Four candidates will face off in the race for two select board positions. Incumbents Lloyd Sweetser and Lori Swain will fight to hold onto their seats, while newcomers Sarah Southam and Michele Cole will try to unseat them in the June election. Danna Wilson, while on the ballot, has decided not to run.

Lori Swain

Why are you seeking the select board nomination?

I have lived in Bethel for over 36 years and love the town and townspeople. I am seeking a seat on the board to continue to be of service to the townspeople and to bring Bethel forward into  better position to prosper.

What do you think are some important issues facing the town and what do you hope to accomplish?

Our town has some major issues going on, one being the wastewater treatment plant and all of it’s issues that have not been funded over the years that need to be dealt with now. We have old infrastructure that is falling apart and needs replacing. We need to figure out a way to pay for these important issues without breaking the pockets of the rate payers and the townspeople. We have a housing shortage that needs immediate attention. And we need to deal with the Ethel Bisbee lot. We need a place for voting and a bigger space for meetings and community space.

What is your experience with community organizations, and have you held positions in any organizations?

I have served on the Sign Ordinance Committee, the Marijuana Committee, and the Ordinance Review Committee. I am currently on the Solid Waste Committee and the Capital Improvement Committee.

How long have you lived in Bethel? Please provide any information that you don’t mind sharing regarding your age, whether you are employed or retired and if you live with family or are single.

I am a single, 64-year-old, with one married daughter and two grandchildren. I own a home in Bethel and my daughter and her family live with me. I am a licensed travel consultant of 23 years and currently work out of my home.

 

Sarah Southam

Why are you seeking the select board nomination?

I am running for the select board because I want to be involved in town government and learn as I work to listen to and problem solve with my community. I enjoy working with other people and the challenge of tackling difficult tasks. I am willing to read thoroughly, delve into data, ask questions and listen to others when attempting to creatively accomplish a goal for the community. I love my home of Bethel, ME and would feel honored to serve the community in the capacity of selectwoman.

What do you think are some important issues facing the town and what do you hope to accomplish?

I feel that creating a strategic plan for the future of the town would be a priority. With more direction, we can be productive and forward thinking in our growth as a town. Supporting local businesses in our town is important so that they can grow in creative ways. We need to be able to provide affordable housing for young, hard-working people so that our town stays vibrant with their energy and ideas.

I would love to see our town embrace energy efficiency and use alternative forms of energy to power town buildings, schools, local businesses and vehicles. I am very interested in tackling the waste management and waste water treatment issues facing our town. I like to problem solve and work with numbers and so I hope that I can be helpful in finding ways to be more efficient with town funds and use them to maximum benefit.

Being proactive, rather than reactive, is something that I think I can bring to the table. I would also like to improve communication between the town office and the local people. Communication in various forms is something that I have always strived to do so that the necessary people feel informed and included in decision making.

What is your experience with community organizations, and have you held positions in any organizations?

I was a high school math and science teacher for 31 years. I spent 16 of those years at Telstar HS teaching chemistry, physics and math. I coached cross country running and cross country skiing while I was there. I also served as the advisor to the National Honor Society. Through my work as a teacher, I built many positive relationships with people in the community.

I have been the activities coordinator and a volunteer for the Bethel Outing Club and have worked for many years to help build kids’ outdoor programming – especially around cross country skiing. The past two winters I have worked with Maine West Project Play and Mahoosuc Kids’ Association to provide after school cross country skiing to about 60 elementary aged kids.

I have helped organize the annual Bethel Outing Club Ski Sale, various races like the Telstar Relays and the Flying Moose, and the Bill Koch Festival when it happened in Bethel in 2017. I have been a member of the Bethel Conservation Commission for many years and help organize the annual Green Up Day when town residents come out together to clean up litter along our roadsides.

In 2018-2019 I worked on the ordinance to ban single use plastic bags and polystyrene containers. I am a task force member for Bethel Area Arts & Music and have helped organize live music and art events for the community. Bringing people together to learn new things and enjoy educational/cultural events is one of my most favorite things to do.

How long have you lived in Bethel? Please provide any information that you don’t mind sharing regarding your age, whether you are employed or retired and if you live with family or are single.

I am 58 years old and live with my husband, Peter. We bought land in Bethel in 1990 and built our home from scratch over the course of 12 years. We moved here full-time in 2002. We have two grown children, Samantha and Max.

Samantha lives in Portland, OR and works for Habitat for Humanity, and Max lives here in Bethel building mountain bike trails for Mount Abram. After finishing a career in teaching, I have worked at The Gem for the past five years, four of those years as manager and, presently, I organize events/programming that happens at the theater. I love to cross country ski, bicycle, hike and work in my yard. Thank you so much for your support and I hope you will consider me for selectwoman in June.

 

Michele Varuolo Cole

Why are you seeking the select board nomination?

I have served the Bethel area in one capacity or another nearly all my adult life to include a term as selectperson 2019 – 2022. I believe in “Bethel Strong” and would be truly honored to serve the townspeople again as selectperson. I would like to see town operations improve and look forward to participating in several of the long-term municipal efforts underway. It is my sentiment that a sound town government can make a positive difference in community affairs and people’s lives.

I believe my business and administrative background, together with my community and organization service, can bring value and added perspective to the Selectboard. If elected, I will serve with team spirit, enthusiasm, and commitment to the community.

 What do you think are some important issues facing the town and what do you hope to accomplish?

I see our town in a transition of sorts as we navigate the ups and downs of the economy in the wake of the pandemic. I’ve learned that our public assets along with some of our municipal programs are in need of repair, or review, so that we can best meet community needs. And, in listening to townspeople, there is an awareness that Bethel is the region’s service center, adding to our challenges.

It takes a recognition that such issues exist. We can’t shy away from having these conversations. Rather, we must rationally assess the various situations and develop reasonable approaches to address these complex issues.

Getting back to the basics is a good place to start. I remain an advocate for our town government to serve the public with fairness, transparency, and accountability.

This can’t all be done in a vacuum. I am a firm believer that public process and public participation lead to the best outcomes. I will always welcome people’s input and respect their views when making decisions for the Bethel Community.

What is your experience with community organizations, and have you held positions in any organizations?

I have had the privilege of participating in numerous community organizations including non-profits, service organizations, town-sponsored committees, and in town elected capacities. And, I have held positions in many of these organizations.

I remain active in community affairs and presently participate in the following. I am a member and treasurer of the American Legion Auxiliary. I chair the board of Project Opportunity – supporting Telstar High School students with grants and scholarships. I’m a Bethel Rotary Club member and currently serve as assistant treasurer and as Assistant District Governor for five Rotary clubs in western Maine. I’m a member of the town budget committee and I’m an elected Assessor.

I’ve served on the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce Board and held each of the officer positions. It was an honor to serve as Chamber President when we, as a community, built the world’s tallest snowman – Angus-King of the Mountain! For 23 years I have been a Rotarian and served in officer positions, including the presidency.

I’m humbled to have served on the board of Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation for many years and held the positions of secretary and governance committee chairperson. I have experience with condominium associations, having served on the Grand Summit at Sunday River Homeowners Association board as well as treasurer. I’ve served as a Ski Museum of Maine board member, and I was a member of the Bethel Outing Club in its early years.

I have served the towns of Newry and Bethel in various capacities such as Newry Unified Development Ordinance Committee, Newry Planning Board recording secretary, Bethel Comprehensive Plan Development and Implementation Committee, Bethel Town Code Committee and Bethel’s Budget Committee.

I enjoy being a member of the Bethel Library and the Bethel Historical Society. As time allows, I volunteer for events and fundraising efforts for many of the above-mentioned organizations as well as special community projects such as the Mahoosuc Area Broadband Committee.

How long have you lived in Bethel? Please provide any information that you don’t mind sharing regarding your age, whether you are employed or retired and if you live with family or are single.

I grew up in Wilton, Maine, and graduated from Mt. Blue Regional High School in Farmington, Maine. After earning my degree from the University of Vermont in 1984, I sought work in the ski industry and moved to Bethel – where I have lived ever since. I worked 17 years at Sunday River and American Skiing Company.

Since my time at the Mountain, I have remained working locally in an entrepreneurial and small business environment. My current employer is Maine Energy Systems, here in Bethel.

I live on 32 Mechanic St with my husband Scott Cole. I’m a proud aunt to several nieces and nephews and stepmom to two adult children.

 

Lloyd Sweetser

Why are you seeking the select board nomination? 

I am seeking a selectman nomination as I am sitting on the board now.  I feel that I have a great deal to offer to this town that I grew up in.

What do you think are some important issues facing the town and what do you hope to accomplish? 

We have a staffing issue for most businesses in town, I think this comes from not having affordable housing for the people to live and work in Bethel.  We need to work on and see what we can do to increase affordable housing.

We also have an issue with the wastewater treatment plant that needs to be addressed and fixed, as some of the updates that need to be done have been overlooked for years.

 What is your experience with community organizations, and have you held positions in any organizations? 

I have been on the select board for 12 years.  I have also done six years on the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce board serving on the executive committee and been the president of the board for 1 year.  I have sat as president of Team Hailey Hugs since the organization was formed.

I was one of the original and I am still on board of The Bethel Area District Exchange and Food Pantry since it has become a 501C3.  I have also been a member of the Bethel Masonic Lodge for 12 years; held chairs every year in the lodge.

For six years I served the Grand Lodge of Maine as the education representative for the 20^th Masonic District in that role, I brought education programs to all lodge in the district.  I have been on the budget committee for Oxford County for the past four years.

How long have you lived in Bethel? Please provide any information that you don’t mind sharing regarding your age, whether you are employed or retired and if you live with family or are single. 

I have lived in Bethel my whole life, growing up here in this great town.  While growing up here I was involved in the Boy Scouts which taught me at a young age about community service and giving back to the community.  I earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout.  My junior year of high school, I attended Boy State put on by the American Legon which was great as it gave me the opportunity to learn about how town government works.

I am currently working as the Banking Center Manager of the Northeast Bank here in Bethel, I have been with the bank for 19 years now.  Northeast bank encourages the employees to get out and be involved in the communities that they live and work in.

 

 

 

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