Greg Altznauer


Killdeer Road


Education: Ohio Wesleyan University. B.A. Economics Management.


Occupation: Software Consultant


Age: 40’s  


Party Affiliation:  Independent


Political experience: Yes


Civic associations: Fort Williams Advisory Committee, Friends of the Presumpscot River Board, and many other organizations.


Statement about candidacy: If elected I will fight for what the
citizens of Cape Elizabeth want. Strong schools, lower taxes, and
preserving the town’s rural character.











Paul J. McKenney


5 Katahdin Road


Education: BA Philosophy/History, Rochester Institute of Technology; MA Public Administration, Minnesota State University


Occupation:  Financial Planner, Lt. Colonel in U.S. Army Reserves


Age:  47


Party Affiliation: Registered Independent


Political Experience: Current Town Council Chairman, Finance Chairman 
(one year), Town Councilor (three years), Greater Portland Council of
Governments (GPCOG) chairman of Community Economic Development
Committee, current President, two years Vice President, three years
Executive Board.


Civic Associations: Member Rotary International; Chair, National Eagle
Scout Association, Pine Tree Council;  Member Cape Elizabeth Land
Trust; US Army Reserves, teach graduate studies in military leadership,
history, and strategic studies.


Statement about candidacy: I have relevant experience as a town and
regional leader as well as relevant and ongoing education to help
prepare the Town of Cape Elizabeth for the future.  I am a long-term
resident with three grown children who graduated from the Cape
Elizabeth School System. My family and I have benefited from living in
the Cape Elizabeth community. As a Town Councilor, I would like to see
that the same quality of life continues for everyone.








Mary Ann Lynch


2 Olde Colony Lane


Education: attended Rutgers University;  B.A. USM; J.D. University of Maine School of Law


Occupation: 6 years private law practice at Verrill  & Dana,
Portland; 7 years as V. P. & General Counsel, Maine Yankee; 3 years
as an energy consultant; currently full time homemaker.


Age: 52


Party Affiliation: Independent


Political experience: Town Council 2001 to present; Cumberland County
Budget Advisory Committee, representing District 2, Cape, Scarborough,
and South Portland.


Civic associations: Thomas Memorial Library Foundation and former TML
Trustee;  Director, Portland Head Light; Volunteer, Wayside Evening
Soup Kitchen and St. Bartholomew Church; Member, Cape Elizabeth Land
Trust; former member, Richards’ Pool renovation committee; Member, High
school and Kindergarten Wing Building Committee.


Statement about candidacy: In my six years on the Council I have
learned that there are no easy solutions to the goals of good
stewardship of town assets and of fiscal responsibility. As town
councilors we need to also approach our responsibilities to the
citizens, and to future generations, with vision and foresight. We
enjoy Fort Williams today because earlier town councils had the vision
to purchase the property and make it a park. I have worked hard to
listen to the residents, take time to gather the facts, and to balance
the many competing needs that come before us as a town. More than ever,
I see that it is a community effort. I appreciate and recognize the
great work of our town and school employees, and the numerous community
groups and school volunteers, who every day work to make these goals of
good stewardship and fiscal responsibility a reality. I love Cape
Elizabeth and it has been a privilege to serve the people of Cape
Elizabeth.





Municipal spending:


Greg Altznauer: Supporting “Green” initiatives for our schools and
buildings. Support the need to preserve infrastructure but I am opposed
to excess spending on pavement, buildings, etc.


Mary Ann Lynch: Our town has many assets: a high quality and nationally
recognized school system, superb community services, and excellent
recreational and fitness facilities. Maintaining and improving these
assets costs money. In my six years on the Council I have learned that
there are no easy solutions to the twin goals of good stewardship and
fiscal responsibility. My goal has been, and will continue to be, an
abiding commitment to support and maintain these assets for future
generations while bringing a responsible and moderate approach to
spending tax dollars.


Paul McKenney: I support adequate municipal spending to continue quality services and infrastructure.


Tax-reform priorities:


Lynch: The most important thing we can do locally is to make
responsible and moderate spending decisions. Cape Elizabeth just
learned that it qualified as a high performing and efficient school
district and it would not have to merge with South Portland or
Scarborough under the school consolidation law. This was accomplished
because (in the face of mandatory proposals like TABOR and Palesky) the
Town Council moderated the increases in spending AND the school board
put the resources in the classroom, not in administration. Despite
being one of the most economic school systems in the area, Cape
Elizabeth was recently named as one of the top 25 places to live and go
to school in the nation, and it was the only town in New England on the
list.


McKenney: I support greater regional collaboration where it makes sense to reduce overall cost and improve efficiencies.


Altznauer: If elected I will fight to not raise taxes, but find ways to lower them.


Growth and development:


McKenney: I support town and regional smart growth, working
collaboratively with our regional neighbors. Also, in October, the Town
Council unanimously passed the Comprehensive Plan that will help guide
us in our growth and development plans for the future.


Lynch: Cape Elizabeth is primarily a residential suburb of Portland. I
agree with the vision of the newly adopted Comprehensive Plan: to
preserve Cape Elizabeth as a highly desirable place to live by
expanding open spaces and accessible trails, encouraging the
preservation of working farms, continuing the current slow pace and
pattern of development and maintaining excellant educational and
municipal services.


Altznauer: Smart, environmentally responsible development. Protecting
our farms and open space from development. I would push for a $500,000
bond for the acquisition of two or three properties deemed critical in
keeping with the rural character.


Education funding:


Altznauer: I am against a cap on school spending and also understand
the urgency to work harmoniously with the school board in light of
consolidation pressures and the town-wide vote on school budgets.


Lynch: Education is a top priority and is reflected in the fact that
the schools receive 72 percent of our tax dollars. I would continue
that priority.


McKenney: I support adequate funding to maintain high-quality schools
and programs in order to help maintain the independence of our school
district.


Economic development:


Lynch: The Town Center and the two small business districts contain a
core group of retail and other services to meet the everyday needs of
town residents. I do not support further expansion of business within
Cape Elizabeth, unless it is consistent with the town’s residential
character.


McKenney: Support regional economic development that fosters the green
economy through more high tech infrastructure to support low impact job
growth.


Altznauer: Keep the schools strong and the town will thrive.


Infrastructure priorities:


Altznauer: Modest alterations to encourage safe walking, biking, and
jogging. Would love to see the town center developed like the recent
CELT building with an emphasis on landscape and a tasteful, modest
building that fits into the environment.


Lynch: Having completed the high school renovation and the kindergarten
wing in recent years, the biggest priority on the school side is
responsible maintenance of the assets. On the municipal side, much of
the sewer system is very old and needs replacement, and keeping the
roads in good condition is critical for safe transportation. Fort
Williams is a national, as well as local, treasure and must be
adequately maintained.


McKenney: The next infrastructure priority is the Town Center Project.


Spending priorities:


Lynch: We need to insure public health and safety, i.e. police and fire
protection, provide an excellent public school education, protect the
environment, i.e., solid waste disposal, recycling, and protection of
the natural environment.


McKenney: Equally weighted priorities include: municipal services, school system, and the upcoming Town Center Project.


Altznauer: Schools, land acquisition, Fort Williams infrastructure
upgrades and support for recreation and exercise (parks, athletic
fields, pedestrian and biking safety in the town center).


Municipal spending cuts:


Altznauer: Unnecessarily giving a developer $80,000 for a sewer line.
That is a cost the developer should absorb, not the town’s taxpayer.
Reduce development of our land and thereby reduce taxes.


Lynch: We need to always be willing to look for savings and to work
smarter. I think the current budget is very lean, but I’m open to
suggestions from the public, and of course, our municipal and school
employees.


McKenney: None – we run a very efficient municipal government and school system. I don’t support any cuts.


Goals for the next term:


McKenney: 1. Maintain a reasonable municipal budget with low taxes; 2.
Maintain high quality municipal services and school system. 3. Continue
to expand open space through policy making and land acquisitions.


Lynch: The greatest challenge facing our town is protecting our natural
environment, supporting our schools and maintaining the level of
community and public services that our citizens currently enjoy. More
specifically, the state school consolidation law mandates reductions in
a number of categories of the school budget and mandates voter approval
of the school budget. These new mandates will severely challenge the
schools and town in the years ahead.  Implementation of the
Comprehensive Plan and preservation of open spaces, while respecting
the rights of landowners, many of whom have generously permitted public
use over the years, will be a major challenge. Accomplishing these
tasks with vision and foresight and in a fiscally responsible manner is
challenging but, working together, eminently possible. As stated above,
my only agenda in serving our town has been, and will continue to be,
an abiding commitment to you to support and maintain our town assets
for future generations while bringing a responsible and moderate
approach to spending tax dollars.


Altznauer: 1) $500,000 Bond for land acquisition, 2) Propose creation
of an Inland Wetland & Watercourse Committee, and 3) Launch a
creative, ambitious, community-wide effort to raise funds for overdue
upgrades to Fort Williams infrastructure.


What are the issues voters bring up most often?


Altznauer: The common thread I hear when speaking to my fellow
neighbors is apathy in the political process. People say, “It doesn’t
matter what the survey results are or what I think; the town will do
whatever they want.” I want to change that! I will be honored to listen
and make the changes you request.


Lynch: Maintaining high quality schools and preservation of open space
and working farms, as well as controlling government spending and
rising property taxes. I have worked to assure that the school budget
is sufficient to maintain the high quality of our schools, while at the
same time doing so in a fiscally responsible manner. I served on the
Comprehensive Plan committee and I’ve voted for the acquisition of
strategic land parcels, such as preservation (along with the Land
Trust) of the Jordan Farm.


McKenney: Voters say to keep doing what I’m doing.


Ways voters can differentiate you from your opponents:


Altznauer: 1) Provide ample funds for the schools, 2) Seek to
aggressively protect our farms, open space and wetlands, 3) Believe in
bottom up, rather than top down government. Plan to listen to the
citizens first and set policy second.


Lynch: I am a long time resident and taxpayer, having lived and raised
a family in Cape Elizabeth continuously since 1984. 2. I have shown the
restraint necessary to make responsible spending decisions without
mandates like TABOR and Palesky, the latter of which would have dealt a
devastating blow to municipal and school services. In so doing, I kept
my promise as an elected official. 3. My legal and management
experience have taught me the importance of listening to people and of
taking the time to gather the facts necessary to support reasoned and
balanced decisions.


McKenney: Voters say that I bring balance and reasonableness in the budget and spending priorities.