Biographical information

Name:

James “Jim” R. Handy

Office Sought:

Lewiston School Committee, Ward 4

Home Street Address:

A lifelong native Lewistonian:9 Maplewood Road

Campaign Phone Number:

207-784-5595

Campaign Email Address:

JRHandy@megalink.net

Facebook page:

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Twitter Account:

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YouTube Channel:

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Occupation or primary source of income:

Customer Satisfaction at L.L.Bean, Inc.

Education:

Attended Lewiston Public Schools, K-12- Graduated from Lewiston High School, 1972; Graduated from the Maine School of Broadcasting, 1974; University of Southern Maine – Bachelor of Arts degree in political science; graduated cum laude (with honors) with significant course work in communications, history, and theatre, 1980.

Family:

3rd Generation Polish-American born in Lewiston in 1954 to working class parents. My father was a postal worker and my mother worked in show and textile mills. I have a brother and a twin sister.

My spouse is Sharon Deveau and we were married in 1983. We are the parents of three children; all of whom attended Lewiston Public Schools and are college graduates. We have a new family addition. She is a welsh corgi-fox terrier mix named Brûlée. She is a dog my son rescued from a hoarder in Tennessee.

Public offices sought or held?

I served in the Maine House (1982-1992) and the Maine Senate (1992-1994). I was appointed to the Education, Aging Retirement and Veterans, and Legal Affairs Committees. I was the Chairperson of the Labor Committee and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education. I am completing 16 years as a member of the Lewiston School Committee (1998 to present) where I am currently the Chairperson.

Civic organizations:

Literacy Volunteers – Androscoggin, Board of Directors, Chair (2013- present), Vice Chair (2012-2013), 2011 – present; American Red Cross Whole Blood and Platelet donor, 1980 -present; Share Our Strength Southern Maine/Taste of the Nation-No Kid Hungry, 2010 – 2011;  Lewiston High School Music Association, Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor, 2004 – present;  Farwell Elementary School, Violence Prevention Coordinating Committee, 2009 – 2011; LA/Arts, Board of Directors, 2009 – 2010;  Lewiston Recreation Department, Volunteer Basketball Coach 4th, 5th and 6th grade co-ed team, 2002 – 2009; Healthy Androscoggin Board of Directors, 2004 – 2009; Chair, 2005 – 2009- Pettingill (Geiger) School Building Committee, 2005 – 2009; Farwell School Building Committee, 2002 – 2007.

Ice breakers

What is your favorite food?

Pierogi, beet soup, pasta, duck.

What is your favorite movie?

– “To Kill a Mocking Bird”- “Norma Rae”- “Help!”- “The Last Waltz”- “The Godfather” series

What is your favorite book?

These books, among many others, have influenced my life:- “The Liberators: America’s Witnesses to the Holocaust: by Michael Hirsh; “Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties” by Ian MacDonald; “The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need–and What We Can Do About It”  by Tony Wagner; “Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball” by Dave Pallone; “No Future Without Forgiveness” by Bishop Desmond Tutu; “A Bintel Brief: Sixty Years of Letters from the Lower East Side to the Jewish Daily Forward” by Isaac Metzker; “The Federalist Papers” ( summaries of 85 articles and essays) written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution.

What is the best political advice you have received?

– “Regard your role as a public official as one of an educator.”

What Maine political figure do you admire most?

– Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, I admire Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain for his incredible courage in 1862 to leave his post as a Bowdoin College professor, and travel to the Augusta to offer his services to the Union Army in the civil War. He later served as governor of Maine.

– Gerry Talbot. I had the honor of meeting Gerry when I was on the staff of the Clerk’s office of the Maine House of Representatives. Later, we serve as colleagues in the Maine House. Gerry was often described as “the conscience of the House.” We worked together on civil and human rights legislation. I have admired Gerry because he always had a focus on the practical impact of laws and policies on the neediest of Mainers.

– Louis Jalbert, Lewiston’s own Louis Jalbert. Louis and I met at a campaign rally for Senator Edmund Muskie. Upon graduation from high school I sought a position with the staff of the Maine House of Representatives. I approached Louis seeking his recommendation for the job. He said he would make the recommendation only if I would make a commitment to him for me to go to college. I made that commitment — not knowing if I could really do it — because up to that point I had been told that I was not “college material.” He was the first and only person who ever had that faith in me. That was inspiring for me. If it were not for him, I would not have gone to college and graduated with honors from the University of Southern Maine.

Local politics

What has Mayor Robert Macdonald done during the past two years that you agree with? What has he done that you disagree with?

I was pleased he supported the school budget. I disagree with his unending focus on the negative and his personal attack on my family

What has the city council done during the past two years that you agree with? What have they done that you disagree with?

I was pleased they supported the school budget.

What has the city administrator and the city staff done during the past two years that you agree with? What have they done that you disagree with?

Mr. Barrett and Ms. Hunter, the city Finance Director has worked closely with the Superintendent and the School Committee in budget development and collaboration in consolidating school and city services. They exceeded my expectations.

What has the school committee done during the past two years that you agree with? What have they done that you disagree with?

The School Committee’s wise use of taxpayer money that allowed committee to turn over additional funds to the city to help with reducing the tax rate; strong support of arts education in challenging budget times when other districts were eliminating those programs; strong support of LRTC programs and; adoption of a new and innovative Teacher and Administrator Professional Evaluation system that focuses on excellence, and; adoption of relevant high school graduation requirements.

What should be done with Bates Mill No. 5?

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Any last words?

I grew up in a time when “conventional learners” were separated from those students who learned in different ways and boys could not take home economics. I know what it’s like to be on the outside looking in as far as school is concerned. But I was able to overcome those challenges and attend college as a non-traditional student. I can honestly say that getting a college degree changed my life and enabled me to make a contribution to my community and state. I worked my way through college as a DJ and clothing salesperson in downtown Lewiston. I am Rock ‘n Roll fan and Beatles aficionado, I love to cook and gardening is a passionate avocation.