BELFAST -  Two years ago, City Councilor Roger Lee tried to recruit a candidate to run in his place but found no takers. Given the demands of the job, he said, he wasn’t totally surprised.

“Most people wouldn’t put up with how busy my life has been,” he said. “I think that’s why a lot of people don’t run.”

Lee had already served three terms, and ultimately ran uncontested for a fourth. This year, the longest standing member of the current City Council said his decision wasn’t contingent. “Eight years is enough,” he said.

During his tenure as the representative from Ward 2, Lee has taken a forceful but considered approach to Council business. He’s championed longterm plans that reduce fossil fuel use — energy efficiency programs, pedestrian and biking accommodations — advocated for the city’s trees and public land. He has also kept a unapologetically hawkish eye on the city’s finances.

Taken as a whole, his influence on the Council has been either appealing or intimidating enough that in three re-election campaigns he never faced serious competition. 

Lee first took office in 2006, running unopposed during a lull in the big-box debates that defined elections before and after. A proposal by Lowe’s Home Improvement reignited the issue in 2008, and Lee helped broker the so-called “compromise” on big box development. The deal eliminated zoning that would have allowed Lowe’s to build on Searsport Avenue, while opening the door for certain kinds of large retailers to build on another property, located on Route 3.

The compromise was controversial, but it didn’t divide the city like a proposal from Walmart had a few years earlier. Lee said the city was fortunate that it was Lowe’s in 2008. The company represented the uncharted territory in Belfast of big-box development, it didn’t have the appeal of a general merchandise retailer like Walmart.

“The town wasn’t split on that. It was the only reason we could come to an agreement,” he said. “We had five votes. It was an exciting day for me. I think it was a way to resolve something that was difficult to resolve.”

Not everyone was happy with the compromise.

The zoning district eliminated by the Council had been created by a citizen-led referendum. Activists targeted Lee and two other councilors for recall. Lee was up for re-election, so his recall was dropped. And the failure of the other recalls at the polls, along with a lack of interest from other retailers, put the big box debate to rest.

Old divisions emerged during the city’s efforts to promote the downtown and attract business in the following years. Lee said the Council set the stage by investing in economic development at a time when no one knew if it would work. The ideas tended to be big, expensive and risky. A proposed performing arts center drew out old divisions. The Council was divided on supporting a flagging Chamber of Commerce, and later on hiring a full-time economic development director. But when downtown storefronts began to fill up, the number of complaints dwindled.

”It’s clearly paid off. The city’s a different place than it was six or eight years ago,” Lee said. “I’m sure not everyone feels that way, but for what ever reason we don’t hear much from people who don’t approve of it. It feels like most people are behind it.”

Lee said he regrets that the city didn’t get involved in the discussions leading up to the school consolidation that created RSU 20. At the time, he could see that Belfast would end up paying more, but had reservations about city officials getting involved in school business.

Overall, he said the work is rewarding and was time well spent.

“I wish more people would do it,” he said, though this time not in vain.

Neal Harkness submitted nomination papers for Ward 2 and Lee was quick to offer an informal endorsement. 

“I think Neal will do a good job,” he said. “I hope people support him.”

Other candidates still have over a week to enter the race, but contested races for Council have been the exception in recent years. The fact that the hottest contests have been for the honorary title of mayor, probably says something about how Belfast has changed since Lee first took office.

“It was different times then,” he said. “You had an issue that divided the community. We don’t have that today.”

Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com