Address: Wiscasset

Occupation: Natural resources policy and science advisor; trained Earth and climate scientist

Education: BS Geology (Florida State University); MS Geology (University of California, Riverside); PhD, Earth and Environmental Science (Columbia University)

Political History (Board, Committees, other): Chair, Wiscasset Climate Action Team (2023-Present)

Clubs/Organizations: Wiscasset Earth Day Celebration (2024, 2025); Geological Society of Maine

Considering the office you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues (350 words or less):  

My core focus if elected is to support a Resilient Wiscasset with abundant housing, a vibrant economy and community, and a town government that leads by example and plans for immediate and long-term issues. The lack of affordable, abundant housing in Wiscasset is a chronic issue and making it hard for so many people in our community to stay and work in Wiscasset. I’ve talked to local business owners who have since moved away because they can’t find affordable housing for their families, and residents barely able to afford their housing because of rising prices and taxes. There are many commonsense fixes that can help grow housing and our community, which would also help other issues like the shrinking school population and worker shortages that have hampered so many local businesses.

More frequent severe weather impacts like coastal flooding, torrential rainfall, and severe storms are also imposing a “hidden tax” on town expenses and public safety that will only grow over time if we don’t prepare for them.

Lastly, our town government has an opportunity to lead by example and reduce operations costs through commonsense energy efficiency projects like installing insulation and air sealing, switching to high efficiency appliances like heat pumps, and reducing dependence on volatile and expensive fossil fuels like heating oil. Major town-owned buildings like the Recreation Center are reliant on expensive heating oil and use inefficient appliances and light bulbs, and we can save taxpayers a lot of money by prioritizing energy efficiency projects. I applaud the town for getting started by installing heat pumps at the town office last year and will prioritize helping the town implement recommendations from Wiscasset’s energy audit, which will be finalized soon.

Any other thoughts on why you are running or what you can bring to the office? (150 words or less):

Public service is a core value for me, and I hope to bring my skills as a trained Earth scientist who’s worked my entire career to support effective public decision-making to help Wiscasset be strong and resilient in the face of growing challenges. Members of the selectboard should be prepared to deal with both today’s and tomorrow’s challenges, which is something I’ve spent my career doing. I am ready to serve our community and help our town respond to immediate issues and plan for 10, 20, and 50 years from now. I am sharing more on my website and social media, and encourage anyone to get in touch with me to share your ideas and concerns at https://www.roseforwiscasset.com