Dear Editor:

I am writing to urge Boothbay Harbor voters to support Merritt Blakeslee for trustee for the Boothbay Region Water District.

Before I retired from the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission earlier this year I worked with Merritt and the rest of the West Harbor Pond Association on one of the most significant and intractable environmental issues on the peninsula. The failure of the one-of-a-kind, 120-year-old saltwater siphon under the Route 27 causeway resulted a growing dead zone that threatened to permanently impair water quality in West Harbor Pond. Working with a number of local, state and federal agencies, including the Boothbay Region Water District, Merritt led the effort to secure grant funding to develop a plan to replace the siphon. He and others then worked with local businesses, organizations and residents to secure the resources to install a new siphon, which was accomplished last fall.

In my opinion, Merritt has the knowledge, personality and pride in the community to be a terrific representative for Boothbay Harbor on the board of trustees.

Bob Faunce

Hebron