Hi, my name is Sharyn Pohlman and I am the Democratic candidate for District Three Knox County Commissioner.

I have lived in the Camden/Rockport area for almost 20 years and have worked with a number of local organizations including Camden Parks and Recreation and the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce. I have served on the Rockport Budget Committee, worked in alternative education for teens with Wayfinder/the Community Schools, worked with the Knox County Homeless Coalition/Hospitality House for the past 18 months, and I currently work in Advancement at Maine Maritime Academy.

District Three is a diverse group of communities, including Appleton, Camden, Hope, Isle au Haut, Matinicus Isle Plantation, North Haven, Rockport, Vinalhaven, and the unorganized territory of Criehaven Township/Muscle Ridge Islands. That makes understanding the broad range of needs of the district, from larger on-shore towns to small island communities, the most challenging part of the job.

The current commissioner, Roger Moody, has served our communities well, but decided not to seek another term. After discussions with Roger about the role of County Commissioner, and finding that my experience is a good fit, I’m excited to run for the position. I have a B.S. in Business Administration/Information Systems and feel my experience in both the public and private sectors has provided me with a good foundation for the office of County Commissioner.

I recognize the importance of working collaboratively with local, county, and state officials to address some of the county’s most pressing issues, such as homelessness, opioid and drug addition, and the impact on our law enforcement and correction institutions. Working with the Community Schools, I was trained in restorative justice practices, and I think that incorporating some of those ideas can reduce recidivism rates in our communities and lower the costs and negative impacts of incarceration.

I believe that additional resources can be found with a cooperative effort involving state and local governments. I plan to work with our legislators to secure targeted funding to help with these issues and work on solutions to create more effective, and cost-efficient ways of addressing them. I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with local, county and state officials to create solutions that will help strengthen our communities.