Hamilton Meserve (R-Southport) announced has announced he will seek a third four-year term (2021-24) as one of Lincoln’s three county commissioners, representing District 1 (Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Southport, Westport and Wiscasset.)*

Below is his statement released Feb. 21.

“To District 1 voters:

I have the honor to run for a third four-year term (2021-2024) as one of three Lincoln County Commissioners.*

Few Lincoln County residents know what county commissioners do. We run Lincoln County’s government, passing an annual budget, currently around $11 million and paid exclusively by tax levies raised on the county’s 19 towns. We approve, throughout the year,
all appropriations thereunder.

We meet 4-6 hours in joint session at least twice monthly at the County Court House in Wiscasset and 10-20 hours a week on other tasks in county. We supervise 80 employees. We oversee the Sheriff and his 30 deputies and staff; the District Attorney’s office; and the offices of Probate and Deeds. We operate County Recycling, collecting and marketing town recyclables at no charge. Also, Emergency Management and 911 Communications; Animal Control; Shellfish Control; Lincoln County Regional Planning; and the 180-bed Two Bridges County Jail owned jointly with Sagadahoc County.

We also serve as a court of appeal for tax payers to challenge town assessments, most recently Lincoln Academy vs. Town of Nobleboro.

Lastly, all three commissioners serve on the Jail’s 12-man Authority. I am currently Authority chairman.

I have spent my first two terms (2013-16 and 2017-20) working closely with Commissioners Trescot and Blodgett to overhaul and streamline County administration and finances – spearheaded by our expert county administrator Carrie Kipfer and Financial Administrator Michelle Cearbaugh. The simple task for us three commissioners has really been to support the corrective initiatives of these two executives, then stay out of their way. The results are reflected in one critical statistic: when Kipfer and Cearbaugh were hired and started work in my first term, the county was borrowing $6 million a year in January to cover operating expenses until town taxes arrived in October. We now anticipate borrowing only $1 million this year and not till June with a target of $0 within two years.

I want to be re-elected for a third four-year term to help assure that this $0 target is met, continuing to save tax payers substantial dollars. Hence, I respectfully seek the votes of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Southport, Westport and Wiscasset residents for that third term, first in the Republicans primary this June 1 and then in the general election Nov 3.

Respectfully,

Hamilton Meserve
Newagen (R- Southport)”

*Commissioner Bill Blodgett (D-Waldoboro) covers Bremen, Bristol, Monhegan Plantation, Nobleboro. South Bristol and Waldoboro. Commissioner Mary Trescot (D-Damariscotta) covers Alna, Damariscotta, Jefferson, Newcastle, Somerville, Whitefield and Hibberts Gore territory.