ROCKLAND — Three candidates, Valli Geiger, Gregory Mason and Lisa Westkaemper, are competing for two seats on the Rockland City Council. In an effort to better understand their goals and philosophies, Penobscot Bay Pilot sent them all a list of the same questions via email. What follows are their individual responses, as they have returned them.  

My name is Gregory Mason I live on 17 Frederick Street in Rockland. I grew up in Rockland and Owls Head.

I went to college in Orono Maine at the University of Maine; as a older adult I have taken courses at the University of Augusta at Rockland.

Three Rockland candidates are vying for two open seats on the Rockland City Council. Penobscot Bay Pilot asked them a set of questions via email; here are their complete answers.
Lisa Westkaemper
Valli Geiger

2) What are Rockland's greatest strengths, and how do you hope to maintain them?I coached youth soccer while my children were attending Rockland area schools. I have served on School Administrative District 5 Board of Directors, the board for the Mid-coast School of Technology, and the board for the after-school program at South School.

I have lived in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the Catskill Mountains in New York, and the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, where I spent 15 years in the building trades.

Rockland is a safe place to live, has original culture and a beautiful harbor, which I believe are its greatest strengths.

3) What are Rockland's greatest issues and problems to address?

 Educating our youth and retraining our residents for the newest skills that our creative economy produces. I believe it is imperative that we shift our focus to creating year round employment opportunities in a changing economy, which is one of Rockland's greatest challenges.

4) How would you like to see Camden Street (by Walmart and Home Depot) develop, or redevelop? Three years ago, there was much conversation, and plans, to address that stretch. Have you looked at the plans?

I have not studied the new Camden Street plan but respect the hard work and thought that went into the study and look forward to adding my input to that. I believe we need to do away with the three lanes and use the space to create limited access roads, so turning off Camden Street and into businesses is both safe and easy. While entering businesses on Camden Street is easy, entrance onto Camden Street should be limited to stop lights where practical for safety. We need practical sidewalks and add in crosswalks in several places, as well. Protecting our existing residential neighborhoods needs to be prioritized. I am also in favor of voluntary compliance with architecture conformity.

5) How do you envision Rockland to be 10 years from now?

As Rockland continues to be gentrified our biggest challenge will be to manage the changes so we always recognize the city everyone wants to live and thrive in now.

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

I believe it is important to honor our ballot initiatives. This said, I think social clubs where we have bars and eateries now is equitable. Sales in our shopping centers away from residential neighborhoods, is a good place start to this conversation.

7) Does Rockland need to adjust zoning to accommodate business growth, housing construction and industry expansion?

Zoning should protect existing stake holders first and only changed after long consideration and compassion for abutters, without forgetting the needs and welfare of our entire community.

8) What is the importance of local government, and how do you see yourself, as a city councilor, in it? 

I see government as a servant to its people and those who are stakeholders. It's job is to lead with transparency and spend with common sense as a guide, and protect all of Rockland’s citizens and visitors. I see myself in just this role.

9) How do you see Rockland fitting into the greater regional economy and culture, and how would you like develop that? 

I see Rockland as a service center, a leader in instilling cooperation, not competition with neighboring towns. We depend on them for our work force, investors, and volunteers who depend on us for our services and enrichment through our many non-profits. I intend to break down the walls between us, to create an inclusive society so no town or person gets left out as we move forward in this time of change.

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

I believe I have the skill and vision that can help to move us into a time of a more just and fair community, by educating our young and taking care of our old, those that need a hand up or help, and leave no one behind. That is my goal.