Candidate Deborah Vickers Responds to Chamber Questionnaire

As part of our goal to be a conduit that connects businesses, community, and government through effective communication, we asked each of the Bar Harbor Town Council candidates several questions. We have published their responses below. We have published Candidate Deborah Vickers's responses below. A posting with all candidate responses can be found at www.visitbarharbor.com/blog/chamber-blog-5694/post/town-council-candidates-respond-to-chamber-questionnaire-all-candidates-42752.

A couple of notes before you start reading:

• Candidates were limited to 200 words per response. To be fair to every candidate, if someone did go over the limit, their response was cut off at the 200th word and a note added at the end of their response with the amount of words they exceeded the response by.
• The questionnaire should NOT be viewed as an endorsement of any candidate. The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce does not currently provide endorsements for candidates of any race. The information provided below should be viewed as an opportunity for candidates to let you know where they stand on several topics affecting our community as you head to the polls this June.
• VOTE - The Annual Town Meeting for Bar Harbor will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd and the June Ballot election will be held on Tuesday, June 9th. Mark your calendars and make a plan to vote.

Thank you for reading,

Your Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Team

Deborah Vickers

Section 1: General Vision

Question: Briefly describe your professional background and any previous service to the Town of Bar Harbor. What are the two to three primary pillars of your campaign platform?

Candidate Answer:

I majored in English and minored in Business at New England College in New Hampshire. I have managed Sherman's of Bar Harbor for approximately 10 years, West End Drug for three years and in 2018 the Black Friar Inn and Pub to current with my partner Steve.

The pillars of my platform are to try and unite the town, reduce the "us VS them" mentality. Work on this mentality to move forward with budgeting and reducing tax burdens.

Question: How can the town better balance the needs of seasonal tourism with its year--round residents?

Candidate Answer:

Candidate did not answer.

Question: What is your approach to the town budget? Where do you see opportunities for cost-saving, and where is further investment non-negotiable?

Candidate Answer:

With the town budget, further investment is absolutely needed for maintaining our sidewalks, streets and infrastructure. Budgeting for that will have to be addressed and not be "kicked down the road."

Section 2: Tourism Management

Question: How can the town better ensure infrastructure (parking, traffic, waste, etc.) remains functional for both visitors and locals?

Candidate Answer:

Maintaining our infrastructure has many levels...waste/trash is definitely going to have to have to shift to pay as you go & weigh at the transfer station. This will ensure that all are paying for exactly what they generate.

Parking, the meters do seem to be effective and are certainly generating income (per an article 11K a space per season) but working on a system for discounts for local residents (certain spots, certain times a day?) would be a good move forward.

Question: What opportunity do you see for tourism management that would enhance both the resident and visitor experience with Bar Harbor?

Candidate Answer:

Traffic is tricky, but if we can educate and shift parking to the Visitors center, utilizing the Island Explorer buses for guests visiting us. Leaving cars at guest lodging with more walking and again utilizing the Island Explorers. Any education to get people to slow down (vacation town after all...no need to rush!) and be aware of foot and bike traffic. 

Question: The lodging moratorium was put into place in November 2024. The current extension of the moratorium is set to expire on July 27th and will be one of the first issues the new council we be expected to address. What facts do you see as driving the need to repeal or extend the moratorium? If you do support extending, what work do you believe needs to be completed before you would vote to repeal the moratorium or let the moratorium expire?

Candidate Answer:

The lodging moratorium, in my opinion at this time, should not be extended. I do not feel anything else needs to be done to move forward.