Dr. Wendy Wolf has been living in Boothbay Harbor full-time since 2001 and has decided the time is right to serve her community as a selectmen of Boothbay Harbor.

Wolf is running for the 1-year term, the position formerly held by Robert Splaine. Currently, there is one other person running for this position, Christopher Haskell.

“I feel if you want to be a member of a community, you are committed to serving in some capacity. You can volunteer for a committee, run for a district seat, or in my case, run for selectman,” Wolf said.

Wolf has never before served in an elected office, but she said she has a great deal of experience creating public policy. She is the founding chief executive officer of Maine Health Access Foundation, created in 2000 by the attorney general. The foundation is the state's largest private organization working for the benefit of uninsured and under-insured Mainers.

“It is an honor to serve the people of Maine with the Maine Health Access Foundation,” Wolf said. “Helping the public comes naturally to me.”

Wolf decided selectman was the right course for her because “really exciting things are happening in Boothbay Harbor right now.” These include the Bicycle Coalition coming this summer, the town coming close to completing the Fish Pier, the walkability branding project, and the Route 27 sidewalk, among others, she said.

“The town is in an ideal position right now,” Wolf said. “We can work together with the chamber to attract businesses to our region, not just for the summer but year-round. The community should capitalize on our natural resources, which include our working waterfront, and to preserve the natural beauty of the area. I am in full support of this.”

Wolf also feels it is important to tap into the resources we have in Boothbay Harbor to better the community.

“How do we look at our demographics and where are we headed? We are in the oldest county in the oldest state in the nation,” Wolf said. “That means we have a large population of older people who are creative and experienced in a number of fields. There is so much talent there, just look at what they have already done.

“We have a YMCA that is the envy of many other communities. We have Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, the third biggest tourist destination in the state after Acadia National Park and L.L.Bean. This is a vibrant, independent community full of people who can contribute in a positive way.”

Wolf has decided the one-year term is right for her because she is still employed full-time with the Maine Health Access Foundation, which means she commutes back and forth to Augusta daily.

“This will give me a good idea of how I can contribute, and if I can balance working as a selectman with being employed. I need to make sure I meet the expectations of both positions, and can serve well in both. If I am elected, and I can balance the two, I might be interested in running for a second term.”

“If I didn't think I could do a credible job I wouldn't have signed up,” Wolf said.

Wolf attended college at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. She went to medical school in Ohio, and did her physician training in the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. She received a master’s degree in public health from Harvard in 1998 and worked as a pediatric cardiologist for 20 years.

“It was very rewarding and emotionally challenging career,” Wolf said.

“I think anyone who volunteers (including my competition) deserves thanks for their willingness to be a public servant. It is hard work, and part of commitment to each other and our neighbors.”

Citizens of Boothbay Harbor looking to run for town positions can pick up nomination papers from the town office of Boothbay Harbor. They must be turned into the town clerk of Boothbay Harbor by 4:30 p.m. on March 18, 2014 so time is nearly out. Voting hours will be Friday, May 2, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Town Meeting will be held the next morning at 9 a.m. at the Boothbay Region Elementary School.