Jean Demetracopoulos, currently the Chair of the Town Council, is running unopposed for the three year seat on South Berwick Town Council. However, I heard from the Candidates Forum on October 29 that former Councilor Richard Clough is mounting a write in candidacy to oppose her.
When I cast my vote for Jean Demetracopoulos I will have no reservations that I am casting a vote for someone who contributes to an effective Town Council. Here’s why.
Jean Demetracopoulos is running for her second term. For more than a year she has been the Chair of the Council. She took over the Chair position in the midst of much turmoil and division surrounding the departure of our former Town Manager. In my opinion, the sniping and divisiveness that characterized the Town Council prior to Jean assuming leadership had undermined the Council’s ability to govern effectively. Jean has been a leader in setting a civil tone for the Town Council even when she was the target of anger and verbal abuse from angry townspeople. A lesser person would have crumbled or resorted to counterattacks. She has done neither. Now the Town Council spends their time deliberating over issues rather than sniping. I thank Jean and all of the current Council members for that.
Under Jean’s leadership the Council has made more effort to inform citizens about what is going on. Citizens asked that the supporting documents for the agenda items at each meeting be posted on the Town website. They are now posted prior to each Council meeting, allowing citizens to be informed participants in the meetings.
Jean is fiscally conservative and is very cautious about expenditures. She does her homework and does not move forward unless she is satisfied that she fully understands the implications of her votes. She listens to citizens and other Town Councilors and considers their viewpoints in her decisions.
Sometimes Jean is more conservative that I wish and sometimes, in my opinion, fiscally cautious to a fault. However she balances that with a vision of South Berwick that includes maintaining our quality of life. I appreciate that she has been a staunch advocate of rebuilding our undesignated fund that had been drained in former years. I appreciate that she understands the need to build up capital reserves so we can be good stewards of our town by putting money away to maintain and replace our infrastructure when necessary.
Jean is an advocate of land conservation and protecting our natural resources. She is also an advocate of economic development. I appreciate that she does not see conservation and economic development as mutually exclusive and holds a vision of South Berwick where we can find a sensible balance.
I don’t know Jean personally so when I started being a “regular” at Town Council meetings I didn’t know what to expect. Over the last two years that I have observed her, first as a council member and then as chair, I have been impressed by her integrity above all her other qualities. She votes for what she believes is best for the town. She stands up for what she believes but will compromise to find middle ground. Her votes are not guided by ideology, grudges, or alliances. I don’t always agree with how Jean votes, but I always feel that she is fulfilling her duty as a Town Councilor with integrity and honor.
Jean Demetracopoulos supports the new library. She does not want to see the total cost of building the new library to be born by the taxpayers so is supportive of the efforts of the Friends of the Library to raise donations and private and public grants. The Council, under Jean’s leadership, has kept the Library process moving along since the purchase of the Young Street property in January 2008, resulting in the completion of engineering and architectural studies and the current design development phase of the project.
That’s why I will cast my vote for Jean Demetracopoulos for Town Council on Tuesday, November 3.
– Molly Colman
