My wife Susan and I made a conscious decision to move to Unity 23 years ago because of the people and rural character we found in western Waldo County. We both grew up in large families in small New England towns. We were taught to work hard, be thrifty, and to serve others. We both did well in school and saved their money from summer jobs. We both went on to college in Boston where we met.

I joined Unity's Comprehensive Plan Committee in 1989 and later volunteered to write the Committee's newsletter. In 1993 I was asked to co-chair the Committee with dairy farmer Dick Perkins. In 1995 Unity adopted what is generally recognized as one of the most creative and admired land-use ordinances in the State, with real teeth to protect farmers' rights and to preserve rural character.

Unity Barn Raisers
I also helped found Unity Barn Raisers, a local non-profit organization with hundreds of local members and served as the volunteer director for 10 years. During my time with the Barn Raisers we:

• Transformed a vacant downtown building into a new Community Center.
• Renovated three other downtown buildings
• Created a Farmers' Market and a Community Meals Program.
• Planted over 70 large street trees and over 50 rosebushes.
• Built two miles of new community walking trails.
• Provided $80,000 in low-interest loans to local small businesses in Unity and Troy.
• Engaged hundreds of local children in creative arts programming.
• Participated in "work days" and "service events" to improve and beautify the community.
• Held community forums to help local people plan the future they want.

I have served broader regional interests as President of the Kennebec Valley Council of Government (KVCOG) and Chairman of the Regional Advisory Committee of the Maine Department of Transportation (RTAC #4). I am also a founder of Come Boating in Belfast.

Family Members
My wife Susan grew up in a small Vermont town, the daughter of a Yankee banker. She went on to Wellesley College and met me while I was a student at M.I.T. She had once planned to go to Medical School but decided as a college senior that the hectic life of a physician wasn't the life she wanted. She preferred to devote her time to a family as her mother had done. So she chose a different path, going to graduate school to become a Physician Assistant (PA). She is currently employed at the New Horizons Community Health Center in downtown Unity.

Our two children, Anna (16) and John (13), attend Mount View. Anna is a junior and Johnny is in eighth grade. Anna wants to be teacher when she grows up. Johnny, like his dad, loves everything about boats.
My mother, Jeannette, lives in downtown Belfast. At age 90, she remains active with St. Margaret's Church. I have sisters living in Lincolnville, Farmingdale, and Falmouth, and another in Boston.