I have known Marc Ratner for about a decade and plan to vote for him enthusiastically in November as our next Knox County Commissioner. Marc’s public safety background, extensive experience with local government, and friendly demeanor will serve us all well. 

This is one of those positions that people forget even exists, but county government matters more than you realize. And for all the talk of small towns needing to work together, Knox County is struggling to meet even the core needs of its municipalities. If you need an example, Knox County’s 911 dispatch had to be taken over temporarily by Waldo County in order to avert disaster, they’re burning through administrators, and some of our best county employees are burning the candle at both ends. 

This is no one’s fault in particular. A board of only three people is incredibly problematic. It’s the minimum legally allowable by state statute but it’s crippling to an entity that relies on public votes and deliberations. It only takes two people to make a quorum, meaning two of them can’t even have a conversation together outside of a meeting. It’s time to change that structure. 

Why Marc? Because he is about as good and honest and community minded a person as you can ever hope to find. He cares about other people’s perspectives as much as his own, he loves learning, and he knows what he’s getting himself into. 

As a Select Board member in Camden who served with Marc for a number of years, I know that most of the issues do not come down to party lines. It comes down to professionalism, competence, and a passion for service. 

Let’s face it, a board of three elected officials, as individuals, are not going to make the difference one way or another in the operations of our 911 dispatch, some kind of regional public transportation, housing affordability, or making our justice system more fair and functional. We cannot rely on elected officials each taking a turn at the reins while failing to invest in high quality professional staffing. 

Elected boards hire, fire, and oversee the county administrator. The manager. That’s their most important task and this has been the biggest struggle. 

Marc is easy to work with and he will be good at recruiting, retaining, and holding accountable the next professional manager. He also knows that we should avoid being  “penny wise and pound foolish” when it comes to staffing. Saving a few bucks by paying your top management positions a below average salary will end up costing us more than it already has. 

Not sure? Send him an email. Schedule a coffee or phone call. Marc prides himself on accessibility and transparency. He loves getting input from outside his circle and he will be your voice at endless meetings that no one has time for. I’ve watched him live this philosophy and you can e-mail him at mjrrescue@aol.com

Alison McKellar lives in Camden and is a Camden Select Board member