Page 8 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, November 4, 2011
Two candidates vie for term as Portland Water District trustee BY MATTHEW ARCO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
One of the city’s four seats on the Portland Water District’s Board of Trustees will appear on the upcoming election ballot, and two Portland residents — one a former educator, the other a contractor — are campaigning to fill the position. The 11-member board maintains Greater Portland’s treatment plant and pump stations, 1,000 miles of pipe and approves policies and water rates. Trustees are elected to five-year terms. The city seat is being vacated by trustee David Margolis-Pineo. Bradford Cleaves and John Safarik both say they have the knowledge and experience to represent Portland’s interests serving on the board that manages the Portland Water District.
Safarik, a retired computer programmer and former educator, said his focus as a trustee would center on maintaining what is already in place, and protecting it furCleaves ther down the line. “We’ve got a really good water supply and I’d like to see it stay that way,” Safarik said. “This area is blessed with an abundance of good water and I think that allows us to take if for granted.” Safarik explained he’s concerned about a rising suburban population
and preventing any commercial extraction of the area’s valuable resource. If elected, he said he plans to ensure the water supply is reliable and safe, first and foremost. “ W e ’ r e Safarik blessed with it but we shouldn’t be too complacent. I think the board should be a powerful watchdog,” he said. “People should be involved with civic decisions (and) I’m concerned about the long term.” Cleaves, a contractor and president and chief financial officer of D & C Construction Co., is campaigning on
his extensive work with infrastructure repair and maintenance. “That’s what we specialize in,” he said, adding, “My biggest focus would be on making sure that the Casco Bay watershed remains intact.” He explained his company has worked with hundreds of municipalities and said his background of more than 25 years of water, wastewater and alternative energy products experience makes him a knowledgeable source on the issues. “Also, trying to keep things in budget is a big issues,” said Cleaves, adding that he would bring “common sense business experience” to the position if elected. The trustees meet twice a month and monitor water infrastructure and manage rate increases. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
City committee urges broad discussion on plastic bag usage BY MATTHEW ARCO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
An outgoing City Council subcommittee wants its successors to continue the discussion next year on whether to regulate plastic bag usage within Portland. Members of the Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee agreed Thursday night to recommend that the next committee keep the discussion moving forward. They
suggested the new committee members foster a broader discussion on how to best cut down on the number of plastic bags used by Portlanders. “(We should) have, at least, a roundtable discussion … and see where there might be some common ground,” Councilor Ed Suslovic said. The subcommittee concluded its final meeting Thursday before the upcoming elections, after which point a new mayor will decide which councilors will serve on the new subcom-
Benefit Arabic Dance Party With music provided by ALHAN Middle Eastern Music Ensemble & Jamileh performing the classical Egyptian Belly Dance. With teachers on hand, we’ll learn the simple dakbe dance together. It’s fun and invigorating for everyone…singles as well as the entire family!
Saturday Nov. 5, 2011, 7 p.m. Woodford’s Club 179 Woodford Street, Portland Adults $15 • Seniors & Students $8 • Under 12 free Discounts available to families We know these are difficult times economically No one will be turned away (pay what you can) Proceeds go to The Middle East Children’s Alliance Project to bring clean, safe drinking water to the children of Gaza.
Come dance, enjoy light Middle East refreshments, and do your holiday gift-buying from beautiful Palestinian pottery, scarves, soaps, bracelets and more.
Sponsored by Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights www.mvprights.org For further information: 207-239-8060; rmschaible@gmail.com
mittee. “I wanted the discussion to continue,” said Councilor Dave Marshall, the chairman of the subcommittee. “It should be a discussion about plastic bags and how we can curb the usage.” Marshall introduced the item on Thursday’s agenda, however there was no additional debate on the topic aside from agreeing that future talks should take place. The issue arose during the committee’s regular October when they were
given a presentation by a member of the Surfrider Foundation, a California group dedicated to clean oceans and beaches. Mathew Faulker, a volunteer with the group, gave a brief presentation last month outlining the negative impacts of plastic bags. He said plastic bags often end up in waterways and do not biodegrade over time. Also, he said that only about 10 percent of plastic bags ever get recycled. see next page