Five people are running for three South Portland City Council seats – the following are surveys completed by each candidate.

Steve Onos

Age: 43

Position seeking: City Council District 2

Address: 114 Jordan Ave., South Portland

Phone: 799-9715

Occupation: Relationship manager at JPMorgan Chase

Marital Status: Married 19 years

Spouse’s Name: Connie

Children: Izaak (15), Abby (13), Sydney (11)

Highest Level of education completed: BS in business

Name and location of school or university last attended: University of Southern Maine

Organizations and activities:  School Board (2001-2007), SP National Little League coach, SP Music Boosters, SP Historical Society, and Portland Players.

Top three issues: (in order of priority)

1. Economy-The global credit crisis could have a major impact on our local economy.

2. Tax rate-We need to keep the tax rate affordable to the average citizen.

3. Balance spending-The majority of our tax dollars go to education. We need to make tough choices on both the school and city side on how we spend to keep our tax rates low.

In your own words, why are you seeking elected office? 

I have been working with and watching the city council closely for the past 10 years and have become increasingly frustrated. Past councils have become reactive instead of proactive and that has led to some poor decisions.  I believe that I could combine my skills in banking and finance with my six years of experience on the school board to make a very effective leader for the city. I have a proven track record of strong negotiation skills, accessibility, and making informed, independent decisions. I was involved in the last two teacher contract negotiations on behalf of the city that increased the amount school employees contribute to health insurance from 8 percent to 14 percent, thus keeping costs in check and saving the taxpayers significant dollars. If elected, I would use the same collaborative style and ask myself the same question. Do we need it or would it be nice to have?  If I applied that logic to recent decisions I would have voted the following ways.

Armory purchase- No.  

Clean-up of Long Creek-Yes.  

Expansion of Thomas Knight landing-No.  

Tattoo moratorium-No.  

Automated recycling-Yes.  

   I am running a unique campaign by taking the no signs pledge, turning down contributions and not asking for endorsements to prove a point. I don’t want to litter, waste thousands of dollars or owe favors to anyone except you-the taxpayers who elected me. I want to earn your vote and the right to represent the average person in South Portland.

James E Hughes

Age: 64

Position seeking: City Council District 5 South Portland

Address: 1776 Broadway

Phone: 773-9118

Occupation: Programmer

Marital Status: Married

Spouse’s Name: Ghislaine Bérubé

Children: Sarah, Rhonda, Jennifer, Adam

Highest Level of education completed: BS

Name and location of school or university last attended: USM

Organizations and activities: West End Trails, ecomaine, Long Creek Watershed, MESDA

Top three issues: (in order of priority)

1. Heating – Make sure everyone in South Portland has heat this winter.

2. Traffic – Reduce trucks on our residential streets.

3. Long Creek Watershed – Finish plan that protects the Long Creek watershed.

In your own words, why are you seeking elected office? 

  Fortunately I’ve accomplished a lot of my goals during my first two terms:

•We tightened the rules on purchasing to make sure the city gets a good price on what it buys 

•Exit 3 was finished without the ugly netting and with the help of our landscape department 

•The sound wall protecting our neighborhoods is to be built next year 

•We completed a nature trail around Clarks Pond with volunteer help from all over the city and the WET committee has plans for more trails thru the West End. 

•Long Creek Watershed committee along with businesses in the area, the state DEP, the cities of Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook  and South Portland is working to clean up the creek. Pretty soon you’ll be able to fish in the creek just like your grandparents did.

I’m running because I want to finish up projects I’m working on now and start on new goals that I think are important for South Portland: 

•The Long Creek watershed project will bring back one of the most endangered streams in Maine. This is important not only for ourselves but also because we are protecting waters that are grandchildren will use.  

•Exit 4 needs to be changed so that trucks can go south from the oil terminals instead of driving thru South Portland residential streets. 

•In the short run we need to make sure that our neighbors have heat this winter. In the long run we need to start providing our own energy using wind and water power.

Mark J. Gandolfo   

Age: 49

Position seeking: South Portland City Council, District 5

Address: 41 Sandy Hill Road, South Portland

Phone: 874-0646

Occupation: Operations/Special Projects – Smithwick and Mariners Insurance Agency, Falmouth.  

Marital Status: Married (26 years)   

Spouse’s Name: Cathy

Children: None

Highest Level of education completed: BA, business administration

Name and location of school or university last attended: St. Leo College, Florida

Organizations and activities: Currently sitting on the planning board (past two years). I previously served as a commissioner on the Portland Harbor Commission, on the recycling committee, Citizen’s Armory-Use Committee and the Broadway Truck Traffic Committee.   

Top three issues: (in order of priority)

1. Providing the high level of quality services that citizens expect at a reasonable cost despite the pressure of uncertain economic conditions, the ever increasing costs of doing business and a shrinking revenue stream.

2. Attending to the city’s aging infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, buildings).

3. Updating the city’s Comprehensive Plan (due by 2011).  This major project is a critically important opportunity for the entire community (city leaders/staff, residents and business owners) to establish a “shared” vision of the future regarding such things as land-use, economic development, protection of open space, environmental sustainability, zoning, city “identity” and community well-being.

In your own words, why are you seeking elected office? 

   I feel strongly that public service, in any form, is an honorable way of giving back to the community. We are a unique and vibrant city that finds a way to blend small town sensibilities with large city amenities; encourages and sustains an economic climate that attracts world class companies alongside many mom/pop - “main street” businesses; appreciates and values diversity, the arts and local history. We have a large retail center but recognize the value of a mixed-use, “downtown.”  We are real lucky to have a combination of natural resources that is a microcosm of Maine such as: a working yet accessible waterfront, a good number of parks and trails, ponds to fish in, a popular beach and the “Greenbelt.” We have active neighborhood associations. Volunteerism is as at all time high. We have a good school system.  

   Yet despite all this, we face challenges.  Some of our buildings require extensive and costly renovation/upgrades; some are being underutilized and some are maxed out. If you drive around the city it is very apparent that some of our roads are in bad shape. Providing quality services despite ever increasing costs with a revenue stream that is not keeping pace is putting pressure on our budget. The recent national financial crisis isn’t making it any easier as interest rates rise and return on investments shrink.  We must be creative in finding funding sources and explore more regionalization of services. The changing makeup of our demographics requires us to work extra hard to ensure that we stay connected as a community.  In my opinion, a gap exists between the east and west side of the city that needs to be bridged. In addition, steadily declining school enrollments mandate that we address how and where we educate our children. 

   It is very clear that going forward these challenges and others require a council that has fresh ideas, new perspectives, values collaboration and works as a team (alongside the city manager and staff).  I believe that there is a need for renewed energy, drive and creativity. I’m ready to go to work and very much want to be part of a vibrant leadership team.  

Patricia (Patti) Smith

Age: 46

Position seeking: South Portland City Council seat – District 2

Address: 63 Parrott Street, South Portland

Phone: 615-3870  (day) 799-6894    (night)

Occupation: Director of Human Resources and Domestic Sales, Planet Dog, Portland

Marital Status: Single with life partner 

Partner’s Name: Susan Chase

Children: None 

Highest Level of education completed:  Master’s Degree in business administration (MBA)

Name and location of school or university last attended: Drexel University, Philadelphia

Organizations and activities: Society for Human Resource Management; Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility; South Portland Land Trust; Australian Shepherd Rescue; Green South Portland

Top three issues: (in order of priority)

1. The development of an updated comprehensive plan for South Portland’s future.

2. The protection and preservation of open space to support a healthy community.

3. Fiscal responsibility with prudent taxatio 

In your own words, why are you seeking elected office? 

   I love living in South Portland. There are so many wonderful people and places in our city. And, I think our city council has often done a good job of keeping South Portland on track. However, I believe that we need a more forward-looking, more strategic view of our city’s future. This mindset is what I want to bring to the city council. The time is right in my life to give back to my community. I have the energy and commitment to be an active leader in city government and to be a voice for South Portland’s residents. I want my passion and energy to help bring more citizen involvement, which I firmly believe is critical to moving our city forward in a sustainable fashion. My 20 years of diverse business management experience and my collegiate coaching background give me a unique perspective to bring to the South Portland city council. My strength in human resources management will also be invaluable in the political arena where facilitation and consensus building are critical in getting things done. Also, transparency is one of my core values and I feel we need more transparency in our city’s governing process. I hope to share my fresh perspective with the city council to help broaden the scope of the alternatives and options available to us as we look to shape the future of our city.

Thomas S. Coward

Age: 54

Position seeking: South Portland City Council, District 1

Address: 17 Woodbury Street

Phone: 329-8637

Occupation: Attorney, real estate broker

Marital Status: Married

Spouse’s Name: Deborah F. Coward

Children: Penelope Coward (27) Miriam Coward (24)

Highest level of education completed: JD

Name and location of last school or university attended: University of Maine School of Law, Portland

Organizations and activities: South Portland Board of appeals, four terms; many volunteer activities in the community over the years.

Top three issues: (in order of priority)

1.Planning for future growth of city

2.Meeting coming city financial crisis

3.Enhancing quality of life in South Portland

In your own words. Why are seeking elected office?

   I believe the city of South Portland needs responsible, forward looking leadership to meet the challenges that are coming with the economic downturn. If intelligent action is not taken now, we will not be able to preserve the range of city services that South Portland residents rely on. We also need to plan now to protect and enhance the quality of life for all residents of our city.