Your Voice: A word from candidate Corinna Cole

And here is the rest of the story :)

In my neighborhood I have been a member of the Indian Lake Shores Improvement Association since 1985. Serving as the Vice-President for the last 8 years:
- I have worked in the past with the York County Sheriffs Department to develop a Crime Watch and currently re-establishing that program with the Maine State Police to combat some neighborhood issues we are having.
- I was Certified as a Courtesy Boat Inspector at the 2013 Maine Milfoil Summit in February, allowing Spaulding Pond to be eligible for matching grants to fight a growing Milfoil infestation.

Proudly I was accepted into the University of Maine Master Gardener Volunteer Program this past year. There are many Community projects I look forward to initiating and getting involved with through this program. Such as Kids can Grow, Harvest for the Hungry and perhaps if there is interest, starting a community garden here in Lebanon.

On the town level. I have been on two Comprehensive Planning Committees over the years. Worked on numerous referendum petitions, helping to put issues important to many on the ballot.

Recently I have been elected as the Chairman of the current Comprehensive Planning Committee. Not having a Comprehensive Plan and lack of zoning has cost Lebanon millions of dollars. Such as potential business development opportunities, an example being the Shaw's distribution center that was looking at property on Route 202, decided to go elsewhere. Another example of lost opportunity... 6 millions dollars in grants that was earmarked for repairs of churches in historical zoned areas, went to churches in other towns.

I initiated a petition, Referendum 1 on the ballot last year. That passed and requires the Town of Lebanon to video tape meetings and make them accessible on the Town website. Allowing citizens who cannot participate in regularly scheduled meetings to keep current with what is happening in town. It may also go a long way in helping to keep our government transparent and accountable which seems to be an important issue these days. A Committee has recently been set up to help get this in place and we hope to have regular recordings in place soon.

In light of some of the problems our Town has been recently experiencing. I think it may also be time to revisit the issue of having a Town Manager in place. The people of our town did see a value in this once and the referendum to have one was passed. Only to be turned down the next year when the Selectmen at the time, who did not support a Town Manager, proposed an unreasonably high salary and an option to override the change in government without even giving it a chance.

If you vote for me I can assure you that I have the time and energy to devote to the position.

I understand being a Selectman is a lot of work and I am ready for the challenge. I would like to be your next Selectman in Lebanon. Please get out there and vote for me, Corinna Cole, on March 11th. Thank you.

P.S. Just because so many people ask, no disrespect intended... But I am not related to former Selectman Jason Cole. :)