Name and address: Claude F. Daigle III, 14 Dyer Road
Education: Gorham High School class of 1986; Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Associates Degree in Ag Business.
Employment: Owned/operated commercial potato farms in Gorham and Florida, owned property services company in Gorham, and currently an agronomic manager at SiteOne Landscape Supply, Portland
Personal information: fourth generation resident of Gorham. My wife Tracey and I graduated from GHS together and have raised two children who went through Gorham schools.
Why are you running for office and how will your experience benefit the Town Council?
There are always challenges that face a growing community and they must be handled in a way that benefits all the people who live in the town. The issues facing Gorham in the recent past have attempted to be solved with too narrow a focus, not looking at the “big picture”, where the solutions or expenditures only benefit a segment of the population. My career experience in agriculture has definitely shown me that each action affects every aspect of a system, not just the challenge you are focused on at the time.
What do you see as the major issues for Gorham and how might they be addressed?
Property taxes and growth are the issues on the minds of most people I have spoken with. Taxes are driven by the budget. Spending must be brought under control. I believe we need a culture change in the way money is spent on the municipal level and how businesses are supported in Gorham. As these changes come, taxes will level out, businesses will stay and multiply, and open land retention will increase.
Name and address: Philip T. Gagnon, Jr., 91 Gordon Farms Road
Education: Master’s Degree in Business; Degree in Economics; Degree in Business Administration
Employment: senior credit officer, vice president, recipient of National Industry Award for Innovation in Banking from NACHA.
Personal information: Married with three school aged children.
Political and community experience: Currently School Committee member, member of Gorham Revolving Loan Fund, Vice Chair, formerly Town Council Chair, vice chair, and various committees, Gorham Economic Development Corp. Gorham Celebration Committee of Incorporation 2011 (Gorham Founders Festival – founder)
Why are you running for office and how will your experience benefit the Town Council?
The need for leadership and thoughtful direction will require someone with my experience and desire to move forward. With full support from the School Board, I was able to find a solution during COVID-19 to use the Municipal Building to bring students back to the High School. I championed the creation of the Facilities Committee for joint collaboration with the Town Council. My prior experience for both town and school will allow for stronger decisions making.
What do you see as the major issues for Gorham and how might they be addressed?
The challenge for any community is maintaining its unique character, while meeting the needs of a growing town. Our village centers and commercial areas should be a priority to attract business and diversify our tax base. Gorham is at a crossroads with residential growth, which is straining capacity within our schools. As former Town Council chair, I sought to expand conservation and trails, expansion and improvement of Little Falls fields and Community Center, while minimizing taxes.
Name and address: Michelle L. Inman Carlson, 37 Black Brook Road
Education: BA Psychology (UMF); Master’s in Social Work (UNE)
Employment: Social worker for 20 years
Personal information: My husband, 3 sons (ages 12, 10, and 10), and I moved to Gorham 8 years ago appreciating the schools and close community feel.
Political and community experience: I have served our community by volunteering in our schools, the Backpack Program, We Love Gorham, and Life Church. I was vice president of the Gorham Educational Foundation and was a fundraiser for “Kenny, our Superhero,” and “Go Pink for Vanessa.” During the pandemic, I made masks that could be seen throughout town.
Why are you running for office and how will your experience benefit the Town Council?
My run for Town Council is driven by a love of Gorham! I believe we need to honor our history while planning for our future. Having concerns that the TC is out of touch with its citizens and is voting without the residents in mind, upsets me. My strength of listening to people and advocating for their needs will ensure residents’ voices are always in the room for every decision.
What do you see as the major issues for Gorham and how might they be addressed?
Gorham faces a significant problem of growth without sufficient infrastructure to support it. It is imperative to focus on attracting businesses while managing residential growth so that our schools and emergency services have the resources needed. Although traffic and parking have improved since COVID-19 hit, it remains an issue. The recent re-evaluation of homes and continued approvals of housing developments show the pleas of residents are not being heard, and the current plan to address growth is more distressing than effective.
Name and address: Christopher M. Kelley, 14 Flaggy Meadow Road
Education: B.S., Business Finance, University of Maine, Orono
Employment: Sales & Business Development Executive
Personal information: Married to Whitney, 2 sons, Connor & Lucas, and Bernie the Scottish Terrier.
Political and community experience: Gorham Economic Development Corporation, 6 years, 3 as board chair. American Legion Dirigo Boys’ State camp counselor, 10 years.
Why are you running for office and how will your experience benefit the Town Council?
It’s important to me to serve our community and give back in a meaningful way. Gorham is a great town, and I’m proud to live here. We are reaching some key points in growth, and I want to help guide that growth.
I think what’s important for the role of a Town councilor is the ability to gather information, couple that with the thoughts and opinions of community members, and make informed decisions based on those factors. My experience on economic development and in life has prepared me for this.
What do you see as the major issues for Gorham and how they might be addressed?
The major challenge on a lot of folks’ minds is growth. We can’t keep moving on this same trajectory and expect a different result. I think the recent tax reassessment made it clear that we need to take a hard look at our plans for the future. Bringing in new businesses to Gorham will help reduce the tax burden on our residents. We need to continue to work toward becoming more business friendly, and steps have already been taken in that direction.
Balancing growth while maintaining our village character will be challenging, but it is possible.
Name and Address: Janet H. Kuech, 115 Narragansett Street
Education: BA English: Central CT State; AD: Castleton VT State
Personal information: Married 43 years, parent of 3
Employment: MSAD6 Title 1 ed tech III 3 years, Gorham School Dept. 21 years, Baxter Memorial Library 12 years
Political and community experience: Gorham Town Council 3 years (Appointments, Capital, Finance, GPCOG), MEA Board of Directors, selectperson and town auditor, regional planning board, All Day K & K-5 Configuration Committees, non-profit treasurer, VBS volunteer
Why are you running for office and how will your experience benefit the Town Council?
I am running for Town Council because I have unfinished business. My experience growing up in an agricultural family taught me the value of caring for people, animals, and the land. I have worked hard to bridge the gaps between Town Council and School Committee, and have more to learn about the Comprehensive Town Plan. I have a calm, curious wisdom and the ability to see the big picture without losing the details.
What do you see as the major issues for Gorham and how might they be addressed?
Gorham is experiencing growing pains. There are tensions between using land for housing, agriculture, commerce, and conservation. There are concerns that Gorham has become unaffordable. I have learned a lot in my first three years on the Town Council and will continue to advocate for Gorham by sharing information and advocating at the local and state levels. We have many energetic folks willing to help using whatever talents and resources they might have.
Name and address: Robert L. Lavoie, 81 Wagner Farm Road
Education: Undergraduate Studies, University of Maine; Doctorate in Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic; Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, ACBSP
Employment: owner and principal doctor at Chiropractic Clinic of Gorham, established in Gorham in 2006.
Personal information: Raised in Aroostook County. Married for 9 years to Amanda, who is a cardiac nurse at Maine Medical Center. We have two children, ages 5 & 7 in the Gorham school system.
Political and community experience: Past chair of Gorham Conservation Commission for 5 years. Member, Gorham Business Exchange. Current board member and past president of the Greater Portland chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association. Long standing advocate and driver for outdoor recreation and open space utilization in Gorham. Project manager for the Gorham Pumptrack Project (Lavoie Bike Park).
Why are you running for office and how will your experience benefit the Town Council?
In 2006 I started my practice in this town because I knew that it was a community I wanted to be a part of. That decision has allowed me to develop deep relationships with my patients and also with other local business owners and town folk. I am running for council because I hear all the concerns and needs of our residents. These people live and work here on limited budgets. They are trying to start businesses, trying to preserve farmland, come from major cities, etc. I want to represent them in deciding what Gorham will become.
What do you see as the major issues for Gorham and how might they be addressed?
Balancing residential and business growth is critical while maintaining our village and community appeal. The schools will always be a priority. We need to make sure that our kids have a safe and rewarding educational experience. A balanced town council that honors Gorham’s roots while planning for its future, in a fiscally responsible way, is what we need.
Name and address: Seven R. Siegel, 238 Main Street
Education: Master of Public Policy & Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Brandeis University, Bachelor of Science in Game Design from Champlain College
Employment: Senior product manager at Harvard Business School Publishing working on new ways to teach leadership
Personal information: I am married to my fantastic wife Becky Wartell. Please wish us luck as we’re trying to start our family right now!
Political and community experience: I am a Planning Board member, and I volunteer weekly at Long Creek Youth Development Center.
Why are you running for office and how will your experience benefit the Town Council?
As this town continues to grow, it is becoming clear that the community doesn’t have a say in the type of growth happening. I’m running to be the community voice. I want to shape our growth to actually benefit our residents, our schools, and our small businesses. My experience on the Planning Board and my career focus on leadership combined with my passion and energy will bring new thinking currently missing from the Town Council.
What do you see as the major issues for Gorham and how might they be addressed?
All of Gorham’s major issues are interconnected. The key isn’t just to address a few issues, the key is to develop a long-term strategy designed to create a balanced tax base and budget; Gorham doesn’t have a current long-term strategy. You can see that through our crowded schools, growing debt, lack of businesses, and high residential taxes. My strategy and vision for the future of Gorham can be found on my website, www.SevenForGorham.com.