By David Harry
Staff Writer

Four candidates of varying age, gender and political experience are vying for two seats on the Town Council.
Incumbents Carol S. Rancourt and Richard J. Sullivan Jr. are joined on the ballot by newcomers Jessica L. Holbrook and Michael A. Hoglund Jr.
All are running for at-large seats in the Nov. 3 elections. The two candidates earning the most votes will win three-year terms representing the whole town, as opposed to specific districts. Polls at Scarborough High School are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are  available at town hall. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 26, also at town hall.
From the perspective of owning a family business based in North Scarborough for 25 years, Hoglund said he thinks the town is not accommodating enough to businesses.
Hoglund said he is running for office for the first time because he sees “flaws in the system.”
“They are too controlling and should try to work with people,” Hoglund said about the town’s building permit policies. He said decisions are delayed too long in granting permits.
Town fees for permits are too high fees for yards sales, Hoglund said, and doghouses are “money grabbing” efforts by the town.
As the owner of Hoglund’s Countryside Butchers and the Pained Turtle restaurant, Hoglund said he has plenty of chances to talk to residents.
“I have always been outgoing and dealing with the public, but find myself sitting down more and discussing issues,” he said.
Hoglund said he supports the bond to buy more land, and supports cutting vehicle excise taxes as well.
“I do like that,” he said. “The tax was meant to go to roads.” Should there be a decrease in excise taxes, Hoglund said the town would need to cut back on “non-school services.”
Like Hoglund said he is undecided on TABOR.
“I have some studying to do,” he said.
Holbrook said her first foray into politics is based on a simple reason.
“I’m just putting some time where my mouth is,” said Holbrook, 28.
As a hair stylist for about a decade, Holbrook has had opportunities to listen and speak with a lot of people, and will bring her communication skills to the council.
“The heart and nature of my field is to be able to talk to people and listen to what they need,” she said. “And sometimes, needs and wants change.”
Holbrook said she supports buying and preserving land and open spaces, but the economy is not right at this time to support the local land bond.
She is also opposed to Question 2 on reducing vehicle excise taxes.
“It has good intentions, but it all goes back to having to generate revenue somewhere,” she said.
As a newcomer, Holbrook said she is still studying and learning about the issues, and this includes TABOR, about which she has not fully made up her mind.
“I realize that for everything you know, there are three or four things you don’t know,” she said.
But if elected, better communication is her first priority.
“The more you have, the more you have, the better you can be,” she said.
Rancourt, 60, is seeking her third term as a councilor after serving nine years on the Board of Education. As she considers what a third term will bring, Rancourt said she is worried about the economy and its effect on the local budgets.
The downturn is part of a three-year cycle, Rancourt said. She is also worried about the effect of the statewide referendum questions proposing reductions in the vehicle excise tax and voter consent for tax increases above a cap tied to the rate of inflation and population growth.
“Either or both will make our jobs all the more difficult,” she said. “We’ve cut to the bone and cutting into the bone will cause pain.”
Rancourt said the council is already careful with spending.
“We rub that penny on both sides,” she said.
What troubles her about Question 4, called the “Taxpayer Bill of Rights” or TABOR, is it may allow a minority of voters to overturn what the majority has decided.
“Is the collective overturning emotional or rational?” she said.
Rancourt said she supports the local bond question to set aside $1 million for buying land to use for open space, especially as passing it will attract an additional $200,000 anonymous donation made through the Maine Community Foundation.
Sullivan, 44, who is seeking his second term, said keeping a sharp eye on town spending is his priority.
“I think I have been a big influence,” he said. “We have kept budget increases around 2 percent and came in with zero percent this year.”
While valuing frugality, Sullivan said he opposes questions 2 and 4.
“Excise taxes have a huge impact on the budget,” Sullivan said. He added that while excise taxes are unpopular, he dislikes the way the bill is written because it potentially favors buyers of more expensive and larger hybrids that do not deliver the fuel economy smaller hybrids do.
“It’s not what people have in mind compared to a Prius,” he said.
He said his opposition to Question 4 is based on concerns the measure would hurt state education funding. Locally, he said electing fiscal conservatives to the council would achieve the same effect as passing TABOR.
Sullivan said he opposes the bond to buy land because of tight town finances and the idea that too much land may end up coming off the town’s tax rolls.
If he wins, Sullivan said he will continue his work on the finance committee.
“We need to sit and look at what we need and what we can do without,” he said.
 
Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219