On June 9, Camden residents have an important opportunity: to elect new members to our Select Board and to reflect, as a community, on how we want our town to be governed.

We are proud to cast our votes for Christopher Nolan and Bobbi Oxton Blake. They will bring to the Select Board something our town government sorely needs — stronger fiscal oversight, a genuine commitment to transparency, and a willingness to listen. They understand that good governance is not just about making decisions; it is about making decisions with the community, not for it.

Camden has always been a place defined by its spirit of neighborliness — a town where people look out for one another, where different viewpoints are welcomed, and where civic life is something we share. That spirit is worth protecting.

In recent years, however, the tenor of our local government has shifted. Whether the issue is the Tannery, the Falls, the Police Department, paid parking downtown, or the elimination of town committees and the volunteers who served on them — a troubling pattern has emerged. Residents feel that decisions are being made without them, and that dissenting voices are not given the respect they deserve. The recent refusal by a majority of Select Board members to place two legal petitions from being placed on the ballot was unconscionable.

This is not about winning or losing on any particular issue. What matters is that every resident feels respected, that every voice has a fair opportunity to be heard, and that our local government remains accountable to the people it serves.

We hope you will join us in voting for Christopher Nolan and Bobbi Oxton Blake on June 9. Camden deserves a Select Board that governs with transparency, humility, and deep respect for its residents.

Cathy Landau-Painter and Charles Mamane live in Camden