Michael Maxim and Amy Winston are vying for the three-year seat on the Edgecomb Board of Selectmen on Saturday, May 20 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Edgecomb Town Hall.

Michael Maxim

Address: 375 River Road

Occupation: Studio Assistant Manager, AE Ceramics

Education: BA in Fine Arts, Hartwick College

Political History (Board, Committees): None

Clubs/Organizations: Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce 2014-2018, President 2016-2018; Boothbay Lights 2016-2019, Project Manager 2018 and 2019; Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund 2017-2019; Community Resource Council 2016-2022, President 2019-2022

Considering the position you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues (350 words or less): 1.The Edgecomb Eddy School – this always seems to be a hot topic for residents. We need to address concerns of population, income, and sustainability. 2. Route 27 road condition – We are the gateway to the rest of the Boothbay region and the road conditions present major issues of safety for the people of our peninsula. 3. Increase business attraction to Edgecomb

Any other thoughts on why you are running or what you can bring to the office? 150 words or less: I was born and raised here in Edgecomb and have spent my entire life (minus my time away in college) living on the peninsula. I value our community, the entire peninsula, and want to see success for the future.

Amy Winston

Address: Mill Road

Occupation: Senior Director, State Policy, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI). I work for CEI, a nonprofit community development organization that provides financing and assistance to small businesses. Previously, I worked as Community Navigator for the (Boothbay Region) Community Resource Council. And before that, I served as Lincoln County’s Economic Development Director and at the legislature as nonpartisan staff to the Marine Resources and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committees. I have shifted from providing direct service and serving as the single point of contact for families and businesses seeking resources, to working on policies that support small business ownership and entrepreneurship and the financial wellness of families and households in rural communities. Issues that I am involved with include affordable housing, agriculture and food-related businesses, aquaculture and working waterfront, childcare, downtown revitalization, and workforce development.

Education: BA, Linguistics and Anthropology, U. of Massachusetts-Amherst (attended Bates College for two years); MA, Political Science, U. of New Hampshire; PhD, Cultural Anthropology. I learned a lot about local government, community, culture, and rural development from local school, business, civic and faith community leaders while living in an eastern Kentucky mine town and while serving as Lincoln County’s community economic development director.

Political History (Board, Committees): I have not held public office before. As an economic development practitioner, I have worked with, provided support to and learned about local government from town and county officials, from selectboards, to economic development, planning, historic preservation and budget committees. I was an alternate on the Edgecomb Planning Board in the early 2000s, a member of the DPAC (Damariscotta Planning Advisory Committee), and when asked I have served as a volunteer poll worker.

Clubs/Organizations: Currently, I am a new member of the Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers, an Olympia’s Leader Advisor (mentor) for the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute at Boothbay Region High School, and vice chair of the MidCoast Maine Community Action.

I have served on local boards from the former Pemaquid Watershed Association and Morris Farm land trusts, the Real Food Institute farm to table school food processing and culinary training project and was a founding member of Lincoln County’s Community Food Council. I cofounded FARMS (Focus on Agriculture in Rural Maine Schools) at the CLC YMCA and received the Character Development Award from the Boothbay Region YMCA in 2017. I am also a member of the busy parents’ club, helping out whenever possible with school field trips and youth sports.

Considering the position you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues (350 words or less): 1. Encouraging residents to get involved in local government and community. 2. Fostering youth aspirations and leadership. 3. Affordability (tax stabilization)

Any other thoughts on why you are running or what you can bring to the office? (150 words or less): I will bring an open mind, familiarity with cultural issues and economic challenges, working knowledge of state and local government (including the resources that are available to municipal officials); deep respect for and commitment to this region; and 25 years of experience as an economic development practitioner. I have lived in Edgecomb for 16 of these years. If elected, I am excited to serve my community. As Lincoln County’s Economic Development Director, I supported historic preservation, working waterfront, local agriculture, housing, and small business development. I work collaboratively and genuinely welcome community input and involvement.