A County we can count on

4 years ago when I first asked for your vote to be our next York County Commissioner, I told you that county government shouldn’t be the "lost level of government" that we should expect more than just the bare minimum.

I’m proud to report that York County has entered a new era of proactive, transparent, and compassionate regional governance.

The County Commission has redefined its role by prioritizing the safety, health, and dignity of every resident—proving county government is not only relevant, but essential and a county we can count on.

---

PRIDE

Never before in the history of York County had our commission passed a proclamation recognizing Pride Month and the plight of our LGBTQ+ neighbors. This is why having diverse representation at the table can make a difference.

It may have passed by just one vote, but every year I’ve been your commissioner, we have passed a pride proclamation.

That’s a county we can count on.

---

Food insecurity

Last year, when the nonprofit running our regional food pantry announced it was closing due to financial distress, we could’ve just said this isn’t our responsibility, as historically it’s not something county government has ever helped with.

But I believe we have a moral obligation to ensure no one in York County, let alone this country, should ever go hungry. Because when you can’t put food on the table, nothing else matters.

I pushed for the county to step up and take over operations. Within a month, we acted, hiring a pantry coordinator, partnering with the Good Shepherd Food Bank, and using our charitable arm to fund it. Today, our First County Food Pantry serves over 3,000 Mainers every single month—including over 600 children.

That’s a county we can count on.​

---

Housing

York County is also doing its part to tackle the housing crisis that hits our most vulnerable the hardest.

We are investing in the York County Homeless Response Hub, to support eviction diversion and enable housing placements. Our work with a local housing authority is creating units using the "Housing First" model to get our chronically unhoused neighbors into managed housing.
​
That’s a county we can count on.

---

substance use recovery

Recovery from substance use disorder should be possible for anyone in York County. We are building hope with construction of our Regional Substance Use Recovery Center.

This 58-bed facility provides a full continuum of care—including detox beds and outpatient programs to reduce the barriers to accessing services.

No other county has this and it will open later this year.
​
That’s a county we can count on.

---

Public Safety

​We recently opened the First Responders Regional Training Center. This state-of-the-art facility is also the first of its kind in Maine—designed to ensure our local heroes like fire and police have the best tools to protect us.

Public safety is only as strong as the training behind it and we are ensuring that when you call for help, the response is faster, more coordinated, and more effective.
​
That’s a county we can count on.

We’ve modernized the Sheriff’s office, outfitting every deputy with a body camera and every patrol cruiser with a lifesaving defibrillator. These represent critical investments in law enforcement accountability while increasing public health and safety.

That’s a county we can count on.

---

coastline

We cannot abandon our coast to the ravages of erosion. We are one significant storm away from losing more homes and businesses in Camp Ellis.  

We’ve operationalized the county’s first-ever regional dredge to protect our coastline and preserve homes and livelihoods.  

Recently, when the Trump Administration put up roadblocks and sought to delay our county’s efforts to tackle coastal erosion mitigation, we rallied support from local, state, and Federal officials to push back, and we won.

I’m pleased to report that with the county’s help, dune restoration has taken place in OOB, and the county has dredged the Saco River to strengthen our coastal resilience in Camp Ellis.

That’s a county we can count on.

---

Accountable to you

Finally, we’ve brought county government to you. We’ve launched a modern website, started publishing annual reports, enhanced our commission room for clear communication during hybrid meetings, and publicized county actions through the press with a new media specialist.

That’s a county we can count on.

York County is no longer the “lost level of government”—we are leading with urgency, innovation, and heart.