There are two open Camden Select Board seats up for election June 9 at annual Town Meeting. The four candidates seeking election to the two three-year terms are Bobbi Oxton Blake, Christopher Nolan (incumbent), Geoff Scott and Sara (Levy) Skrivanich.

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their positions on issues. Here, candidate Bobbi Oxton Blake responds:

Please provide a brief biography of yourself and explain why you decided to seek a seat on the Select Board. 

My name is Bobbi Oxton Blake. I was born in Camden in 1971 and grew up onKnowlton Street. I attended Elm Street School, Rockport Elementary, Mary E. Taylor Middle School, and Camden-Rockport High School. Camden has and will always be my home.  

My work history is focused on customer service, communication, and problem-solving. At 13, I began working at the family business, Bob’s Gulf, on Elm Street. Early on, I learned the value of hard work, community connections, and kindness. I continued to develop my customer service skills at MBNA, and then at the Hope Town Office, where Ispent several years learning about municipal government and how local policies and town budgets impact the lives of residents. I currently work at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Rockland providing services to county residents. 

Public service was modeled for me from a young age. My father, Bob Oxton, served as Camden’s Fire Chief for 26 years. One of our family’s proudest moments was when the town honored for his decades of dedication by naming the Robert M. Oxton Annex after him.

Growing up, I learned early on that public service isn't a job. It’s a commitment to serve the community. While some kids might not have liked being dragged to almost every town event on the calendar, I absolutely loved it. Whether it was helping my father light the Mt. Battie star, setting up the soapbox derby, raising funds for education and the library for the MBNA Foundation, supporting the local animal shelter, or working at the Lobster Festival, helping our community has always been my passion.

I’ve also been a proud member of the Camden Lions Club for the past nine years, where we have done some meaningful work. You might have seen me sorting bottles and cans at Midcoast Solid Waste on the weekends, which helps us raise critical scholarship money for local kids. 

I am running for the Select Board because I see our municipal government moving away from the very people it is meant to serve. Regardless of where you stand on the town issues like the police department or paid parking, one thing is clear: recent decisions are being made without truly considering the input of our residents and local businesses. Camden residents don’t want decisions made for them; they want decisions made with them. I want to be sure they have a voice. 

What experience do you believe most prepares you for serving on the Select Board? 

My entire career has been based involved being in customer service, where success is built on clear communication, efficiency and accountability. I believe the town government should operate in exactly the same way. My background has prepared me to engage with the community, understand their concerns, and work toward solutions that reflect those priorities. I gained municipal operating experience while working for the town of Hope and the state, which will be helpful in regard to the process, but my commitment to the people of Camden is my greatest strength. 

What are the three most pressing issues facing Camden today, and how would you like to see them resolved? 

The top issues I hear from residents are trust in government, rising costs, and maintaining local public safety.   

1. Restoring trust and transparency  

Residents want decisions made with them, not for them. Major issues like parking, policing, and development should include meaningful input from residents, taxpayers, and businesses. We need more open communication, better outreach, and stronger engagement. We also need to rebuild good relationships with our neighboring towns and identify opportunities for collaboration and cost savings that benefit us all. 

1. Controlling the budget  

We cannot sustain property tax increases. Instead, we need to take a close look at spending. Salaries make up a huge chunk of our budget every year. These need to be reviewed to find efficiencies, look for opportunities to share resources, and keep yearly increases on par with similar jobs. We should also explore additional online services and municipal partnerships to reduce costs and improve service quality. 

1. Maintaining a local police presence  

Public safety is a top priority. Camden benefits from having a local police department that understands the community. We need to maintain that presence, protect response times, and ensure consistent service. 

What are Camden’s strengths? 

Camden is known for its natural beauty and rich history, but its strength is in its community. We have such a great mix of people who grew up here, summer residents, and new community members who all care about the town. We also have great businesses and amazing schools. It is a wonderful place to raise a family or retire. We need to maintain the special character of Camden, but we must do it in a fiscally responsible way.  

Do you have a vision for Camden’s future? 

I want to see Camden's town government go back to the people it serves. I’d like to see the Town meeting reinstated. My vision includes a completely transparent, balanced budget where you can see every dollar spent, an efficient municipal office that uses modern online services to save time and money, and a Select Board that actually listens to the community.  

The Maine Municipal Association lists best practices for newly elected officers. Do you have any additional thoughts on what defines a highly functioning Select Board and how you will foster that? 

I agree with the 10 points, but I would add listening. I plan to listen to our residents and local businesses, who feel left out of recent decisions, our town employees, who know our operations best, and my fellow Select Board members who are there to serve the people. We don't need a government that dictates. We need a government that listens, is transparent and accountable, and preserves our way of life. 

How do you see Camden positioned in the larger regional Midcoast economy? 

I would like to see us as a leader and a strong partner in the Midcoast economy. It would be great work in conjunction with other communities regarding business development, infrastructure, events, and housing. We need to be proactive in sharing ideas and resources where it makes sense. It can benefit the entire and save us all money. This starts with building strong relationships with other local town managers and boards.  

Do you advocate for collaborating with other municipalities to share costs and expertise? If so, how? 

Yes. There is a strong argument for collaboration with neighboring towns, particularly if it saves taxpayers money. We need to take initiative and build mutually beneficial relationships with our greater community. Some examples might include sharing infrastructure, like we do with the transfer station, or splitting jobs, as we did with the police chief.

Let's review the budget, speak to other towns and our department directors, and find out where it makes sense, and start reducing costs. Rockport is already discussing a Regionalization Task Force to reduce costs starting with public safety and bulk purchasing. (April 13 SBM) Camden should proactively be requesting a seat at the table. 

Is Camden doing enough to encourage housing capacity for all income levels? 

No. We must take action to expand housing options for our year-round residents. When year-round workers, teachers, and first responders can't afford to live in the town they serve, the community suffers.

I strongly support exploring innovative solutions, such as local property tax breaks; incentives for property owners who choose to rent long-term to local workers rather than seasonal visitors; or incentives for developers to create affordable subdivisions. But Camden cannot solve this problem alone. By teaming up with nearby towns and the state, we can share resources, draft consistent housing policies, and advocate with a louder, unified voice at the state level to protect the year-round families who keep the Midcoast working. 

Should Camden pursue the integration of its police and fire departments into a municipal Public Safety Department? (e.g.: municipal police and fire departments, and EMS, are consolidated into a singular public safety department for personnel efficiencies and cost considerations) 

This has to be decided with our residents and the employees who do the work. We absolutely need our Fire, Police, and EMS departments, and keeping good talent means offering them career stability, so they can confidently build a life and raise a family here.

If there are ways to find efficiencies and reduce duplication across these three services, let’s look for them. But let's do it in a way that prioritizes public safety and allows staff to voice their opinions without fear of being outsourced. We also need to ask our community. We have residents with incredible backgrounds in public safety and business management. We should draw on that local expertise and consult with neighboring towns. It's time to bring these voices together, explore our options, and possibly generate income by providing these services to surrounding towns.  

I would also like to see this same approach in our town office. By combining certain responsibilities and adopting more online services, we can make our staff's jobs easier, keep municipal operations running smoothly, and reduce costs. 

In discussions about key issues, it is not uncommon to hear a wish for how the town used to be. Is there a component of “old Camden” that you think should and could be brought back, or have more of? 

Camden’s history is defined by strong community connections, natural beauty, and old New England charm. 

As we move forward, we should preserve that character while adapting to changing times. That means supporting our local businesses, updating infrastructure, and continuing to bring people together through community events and shared experiences. In this spirit, I would support bringing back the town meeting as a way to discuss important issues and bring the community together. 

Does Camden have enough public waterfront access (lake and ocean)? 

We are incredibly lucky in Camden to have such great access to the waterfront, from Laite Beach and Barrett's Cove to Harbor Park and now the Tannery riverfront park. These are the places that make our town special, though as we all know, parking is becoming a real challenge at almost all of them. We need to work on smart solutions for managing that access.  

That being said, if we happen to have any residents looking to donate their waterfront property to the town, I certainly wouldn't turn it down! 

Do you have preference for a committee(s) to which you’d like to serve as Select Board Liaison? 

That is an easy one, the Budget Committee. This where transparency has really been lacking. In my opinion, every Select Board member should attend every meeting. 

If we want long-term financial stability, we must focus on two things: absolute transparency and smart spending reductions. Every single dollar in our budget belongs to the community, and residents have a right to see exactly where their tax money goes. That is why I advocate for a simplistic open-book accounting system that anyone can view online and understand clearly, along with publishing job descriptions and salaries. Many towns already do this successfully, and it's time we brought that same level of transparency and accountability to Camden. 

In addition, I believe we should strive each year to limit increases to 2-4% to mirror the cost-of-living increases. We cannot sustain the continuous double-digit increases of the past few years, or the continued use of reserves to offset our spending. 

I would also like to bring back the Personnel Committee. I think it is critical that town employees have an objective group of people to voice concerns or opinions without fear of retribution. 

Where is your favorite place in Camden? 

For as long as I can remember, my absolute favorite place in Camden has been my home overlooking Hosmer Pond. Today, there’s nothing I cherish more than sitting on the porch with my husband and our dogs, listening to the loons call while dinner cooks on the grill. We are blessed with wonderful neighbors and a perfect location near the Snow Bowl, where a lifetime of special memories is made. Best of all, my parents live right across the street, allowing me the absolute joy of seeing them every single day.  

I encourage everyone to watch the May 18 Camden Select Board Candidate's Forum. If you have any additional questions that weren't covered during the event or in this questionnaire, please contact me directly at BobbiOxtonforCamden@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you.