BELFAST — Two candidates, Samantha Paradis and Walter Ash, are competing for the mayor’s seat on the Belfast City Council. In an effort to better understand their goals and philosophies, Penobscot Bay Pilot sent them both a list of the same questions via email. What follows are their individual responses, as they have returned them. 

I live on High Street in Belfast and work at Waldo County General Hospital as a registered nurse. I absolutely love living and working here. I row with Come Boating and enjoy walking the local trails.

Through getting to know the community I found that many people were concerned about our aging population and identifying ways to support them. I called a meeting local community members and Aging Well in Waldo County was soon founded. Since then we have working towards identifying and addressing the needs of our aging friends and neighbors, striving for inclusive, supportive and safe communities for all. This work honors the legacy of the people who have helped to make Belfast what it is today and that’s the type of work I hope to continue as your mayor.

I was born and raised in Northern Maine where I learned the value of hard work at a young age during the annual potato harvests. I found my love for nursing and the importance of public service through my work at a local family-owned nursing home. I attended nursing school at the University of Maine. Through the support of the Mitchell Institute I interned at the Mayo Clinic, later starting my career at the teaching hospital.

I have always been passionate about public health. I spent five weeks in Ghana, West Africa, conducting research as a Global Impact Fellow for her Master’s in Public Health practicum. Through my studies I learned that many public health policies are made at the local level. From wastewater management to sidewalk maintenance – every policy affects the health of the community. I hope to bring a public health perspective to Belfast City Council.

As mayor, I will work to ensure a more inclusive and vibrant Belfast.

What are Belfast's greatest strengths, and how do you hope to maintain them?

Belfast’s greatest strengths and how I will maintain them:

• Harbor- Our beautiful harbor provides access to the ocean for commercial fishermen, community groups, residents, and boat owners. I will work with the Harbormaster, Harbor Advisory Council, local businesses and residents to ensure that the harbor is safe, clean, and continues to be a working waterfront.

• Public parks and recreational areas- Our public parks and recreational areas provide open green space for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors. Access to clean and accessible green space is essential for the health of our community. As mayor, maintenance and upkeep of our parks will be a top priority.

• Downtown- Our downtown is lively and full of diverse businesses and people. As mayor, I will continue to support Our Town Belfast, which works to support and maintain our downtown community. I plan on attending downtown business coffee hours to stay up to date on the current issues business owners are facing. I know that accessibility is important and I plan on conducting a walkability assessment of our sidewalks, parking spaces, and crosswalks in the downtown.
• East Belfast- East Belfast is home to a large variety of employers, hotels, and restaurants. It is important that these businesses continue to prosper. As mayor, I plan to start a business coffee hour for East Belfast to hear what is important to ensure their continued success.
• Our hospital — As a registered nurse at Waldo County I know firsthand how amazing our hospital is. Patients receive excellent care and there is a great work culture. In the coming months the hospital’s Board of Directors will consider moving forward with further investigation of joining a consolidated MaineHealth board. I trust that our local board members will have the best interest of the community at heart during this years long process. As this consolidation is further explored, I will advocate for permanent representation on the MaineHealth board.
• Community — The welcoming community in Belfast is what attracted me! There is so much going on here. From the farmer’s market to the YMCA, we have a community focus that fosters warmth and relationship building. As mayor, I will help create a more vibrant and inclusive Belfast by supporting local organizations that strive to build community.
• Airport- Our airport provides access to Belfast by air. When considering the possibility of extending the runway I will work with to ensure that everyone’s voices are at the table during decisions surrounding the airport.

What are Belfast's greatest issues and problems to address?

• Housing – We are experiencing a housing crisis where we are turning away new families who want to contribute to our local economy. We are also losing residents who can no longer afford to pay property tax. This is a multifaceted issue. First, property tax has increased significantly over the last ten years. As mayor, I will bring a fresh perspective to the budgeting process to prevent any further increase. I will be a strong advocate at the State House for increased education funding and municipal revenue sharing. Second, we do not have enough rental apartments. As mayor, I will work on a five and ten year plan for smart housing development. I will work with the council and planning board to find unique solutions to this issue.
• Economic development through broadband access – Currently as many as 30% of Belfast residents do not have access to high speed Internet. As mayor, I will work with our economic development office on identifying where we are without access to broadband in our city.

How do you envision Belfast to be 10 years from now?

I envision Belfast having a robust economy, where an intergenerational community prospers. Where young people stay after high school, families raise children, people put down roots, and older adults contribute. In ten years, I envision that Belfast has more rental apartments where working people can afford to live. Residents who have been here their whole lives and live on a fixed income will not be pushed out by rising property taxes. I see a clean and bustling working waterfront. I see a community where people love working and living.

What is your position on energy use, and does the city needs to expands its sustainable energy efforts?

As mayor, I will take the lead on Belfast transitioning to 100% clean electricity use for our municipal buildings. Moving to clean energy will provide budget stability, improve our public health and environmental quality, provide local economic investment, and reduce our carbon footprint. Belfast is already a leader in clean energy. It is time to take the next step to ensure the health of our community for generations to come. You can see my advocacy with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments on climate change in the following video: https://vimeo.com/234510672

What is your position on marijuana sales, shops and social clubs in Belfast? The state committee has almost finished its regulatory language, which means the towns and cities will need to address their own ordinances.

Does Belfast have a homeless problem? If so, how would you see it addressed?

There is a population of people in Belfast who are homeless and/or under-housed. The city provides support through general assistance and there is support provided through the Knox County Homeless Coalition. Unfortunately, many people fall through the cracks and end up in unlivable situations. There is no shelter in Waldo County; the closest shelters are in Rockland and Bangor, meaning people must leave their communities in seeking shelter. As mayor, I will bring the voices of people who are homeless to the table. I will stay connected with the Knox County Homeless Coalition and be open to further discussion on how to best assist people who are homeless in our community.

How do you see Belfast fitting into the greater regional economy and culture, and how would you like to develop that?

Belfast is a unique community in the Midcoast. We are fortunate to have a diverse economy that includes healthcare, a shipyard, fishing, agriculture, manufacturing, and opportunities for office work. Our city is a welcoming and quirky place. We are a part of the larger Mid-Coast community that fosters self-reliance, a hearty work ethic, and Maine values. As mayor, I will collaborate with other municipalities through the Mayors Coalition.

Does Belfast need to lower its property taxes? If so, how?

Lower property taxes would definitely be desirable but may not be realistic. As mayor, I will work to prevent any further increase in property tax. I will bring a fresh perspective to the budgeting process. I will be a strong advocate at the State House for increased education funding and municipal revenue sharing.

Free space! Anything else you'd like to say to the voter that we haven't thought about?

Here are five things you may not know about me:

• I grew up in a French speaking home
• I have a cat named Princess Fiona
• My mother and I graduated from college the same year
• I am deeply committed to community service
• I have been working in healthcare for 12 years