I am Lisa Westkaemper, a candidate for Rockland City Council.

I have experience as a municipal leader, having served a full term as a City Councilor in my prior city of residence. I have the ability to research complex issues and make balanced decisions by collecting ideas, facts, and approaches - gathered through investigation and by listening to community members.

Rockland faces many complex problems. Property taxes are high, combined with increasing demands for city services. We battle the perception of low-performing schools, combined with increasing school needs. Additional housing is a critical part of the picture in order to ensure a sustainable future for Rockland.

We cannot continue to burden taxpayers with additional city, school, and county financial needs - we have to find another way. State revenue sharing is not what it should be but attempts to change that have not been successful. I would like to see a major consortium of people from areas across Maine, combining forces and presenting a persistent voice to the Statehouse. Representatives, Citizens, Mayors, City Managers - all speaking with one voice about the ramifications of inadequate State support. Our request is simple but imperative - returning a state law mandated percentage of the Sales Tax revenue generated within our city limits. One strong message echoed by many strong voices.

The RSU 13 school district has an uphill climb. The perception is that our schools are not what they should be. I would like to see that perception broken wide open. I want to know what the criteria was that created that perception. Was it graduation rates? Retention rates? Test scores? Poor facilities? All of the above? We need to make sure those criteria are being addressed, improved, and then publicized. I believe in our Superintendent, our School Board, our principals, our teachers, and our students. I want to support our school system in any way I can. If RSU 13 is already being turned around, then we need to publicize that fact more often and with more force. Let's change that perception!

Housing issues in Rockland are complex but there are solutions. We have buildings, houses, and commercial spaces that are not fully utilized. We need to investigate the barriers to occupancy and address them directly. We need to look at the Habitat for Humanity model and go one step further. They are doing great work but we have more properties than they can handle - let's get a group together to directly support their work in Rockland and ensure additional success for that part of the housing equation. There are proven methodologies for avoiding gentrification and ensuring that residents don't get priced out or driven out by rising taxes or excessive valuations.

We can go a long way towards addressing these issues if we focus our energies. Please vote on November 7. Thank you.