Dear Editor:

I am honored to be running Nov. 8 for a second four-year term as one of Lincoln County’s three commissioners.

The Commissioners, who each represent six of Lincoln’s 18 towns, oversee 11 countywide functions: the Sheriff, Communications (911), Emergency/Disaster Response, Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission, Registries of Deeds and Probate, County Courts, District Attorney’s Office, Two Bridges Regional Jail, County Recycling and Animal Control. The County’s combined budget totals $11 million.

My major contribution during my first term (2013-16) has been using my financial background to help revamp this $11 million budget, in particular retaining new auditors, hiring experienced financial administrators and streamlining our accounting procedures. This included steps to rationalize staff numbers and curb the rise in our health costs.

The fiscal 2017 budget, now under annual review by a self-appointed Board of (nine) Town Selectmen, should reflect this. But much work remains.

I was also appointed to the Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority and elected Treasurer this fall. I want to continue pursuing our long-range vision of making Two Bridges fiscally independent of State aid. Current State aid is fickle if non-existent, for example forcing deep staff cuts at Two Bridges the past year and shutting down 100 beds while other county jails remained dangerously overcrowded. Also, the Legislature in Augusta last year unwittingly denied county jails the right to charge for those unused beds. To dig out of this mess, we envision expanding Two Bridges’ two-county ownership (Lincoln and Sagadahoc) to include neighboring counties, as co-owners or term leasers. Temporary arrangements with Waldo, Oxford and Kennebec counties have filled 85 percent of those beds, without increase in county taxes, but only until next summer.

There is still much to do at both the County and Two Bridges. That’s why I seek voter support to serve as your County Commissioner through 2020, representing Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Southport, Westport Island and Wiscasset.

Please don't hesitate to call me if you have any county questions or issues at 633-5666.

Ham Meserve

Newagen