Page 6. MAINE COASTAL NEWS October 2017 70s Memories: Town Offi ce - Selectmen By Lee Wilbur Guy couldn’t have been much lucki-
er than I’ve been and not be a native born Mainer. With a Southern Mother, Maine fa- ther and born in Oregon, it’s no wonder I do get a bit confused at times. After fi nally, and I emphasize that
word, graduating from Univ. of Maine, Orono, some 8 years in the doing and two children, we moved to Southwest Harbor full time. Wasn’t long before Les King, my high school shop teacher, great friend, ear- ly mentor had talked me into running for a vacancy on the Board of Selectmen. He’d run a few years earlier, replacing his father Stanwood “Stan” King (Family having in- herited the politic leaning from early rela- tive David King, fi rst governor of Maine. Back then, the chairmen of the board
ran Maine towns on a daily basis which wouldn’t change until the advent of im- posed Town Manager form of government. The “old guard” were letting go, retiring. Torch was being passed to the younger and things were changing, and Fred Berry, who’d been on the board for some dozen years was up for re-election. By this time I’d been on a couple of
committees, planning being one, and had no notion of making a run for elected of- fi ce, especially Selectman. This was a job for the older, more experienced “men” of town. Back when a woman wouldn’t have thought of running. But Les was quite per- suasive although I didn’t know if I was re- ally up for a step such as this was to be. Here I was, trying to play teaching princi- pal in Lamoine during the day, having all the challenges I needed trying to keep 30
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plus 7th and 8th graders “students” in place
at any given moment. But, Les was my friend and I owed
him and the town I’d grown up in. Hadn’t a clue about running for an elected offi ce. Les said, “Get the Voter List and start call- ing everyone you can on that list.” I knew just about everyone so that was kind of fun. Got to hear some of the real and imagined local problems. Even picked up a couple of “attaboys” from the elders. However, here’s my opponent, Fred
Berry, delivering oil for J.N. Mills. Around town every day. Coff eeing, saying hello on his rounds. Been in offi ce. Wife Alice, active in town aff airs. I fi gured chances of this young “whippersnapper” were some- where located between slim and none. What I didn’t realize, however, was pol- itics in Southwest Harbor and in a lot of Maine towns were due for a change. Just like boatbuilding was going to change. The old guard would pass and new blood would take over the scene. I’d get home late in the afternoon, Call
a few numbers before dinner. Southwest Harbor’s a small town, 1900 population, so I knew just about everyone. Then I’d perhaps read to daughter Ingrid. (son Der- ek still cribbed in diapers), correct papers from the day, call a few more people and die. Five AM I’d start all over again. Great memories though. Our vehicle at
the time was a “50’s something” Ford pick- up truck with the cab fl oor half rusted out. No matter how high the heater ran, never could get warm. When it snowed I’d throw an old mat in to cover the worst. Be frozen by Lamoine corner. Come Town Meeting, this being the
era when town meeting lasted two days, voting the fi rst, all day meeting the second with break at noon for a big chowder dinner at one of the church basements. Meeting would start if my memory serves 9:30-10 AM and at times last well into the eve- ning, especially when consolidating high schools of the island was on a ballot. Previously I’d talked with my super-
intendent, Dale Higgins, about getting in- volved with town politics and he’d encour- aged it. Why for a teacher, I’ve come to question. I got back in town the fi rst day and
voted that evening. Took the next day off for regular meeting. Late that evening, I received a call from Les – The calling had paid off . Must admit I still had mixed emo- tions of what I’d be getting into. How I was going to manage a teaching principal’s po- sition, help raise a family, run a boat rental business summers and be involved as I’d have to be in everyday town aff airs was a question soon to be
realized.....To be con- tinued.
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