A business owner, former forester and dietician is seeking re-election to the Houlton Town Council because she believes there’s more councilors can do to return stability to the town and redevelop the trust of the citizens.
Council Secretary Sue Tortello, who picked up a one-year seat with 1,035 votes in last year’s special general election, is seeking a three-year term in November.
Houlton has 17 open leadership seats for the upcoming election, including five seats on the seven-member Town Council, as well as 10 additional seats on the RSU 29 school board, the Board of Budget Review, the Cary Library board of trustees and directors of the Houlton Water Co.
Tortello graduated from Paul Smith’s College with an associates degree in forestry and from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor of science degree in forestry. After working as a professional forester for 19 years, she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s in nutrition from the University of Maine.
She served as a dietician for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians for 20 years, retiring in 2020. Today she co-owns Volumes Bookstore in Houlton with her business and life partner, Gerry Berthelette. They live in Houlton with their dog, Ducky.
Tortello believes it’s vital for the council to know and respect what the community values and to seek out and encourage citizen input in the governing process whenever possible.
“I feel we’ve lost ground in this area,” she said. “I get the sense that many Houlton residents felt disenfranchised with the decision-making practices of the past and believed their opinions were not being heard. I want to work to improve that relationship.”
Tortello is running for re-election because she believes it’s important to sustain the forward momentum and positive progress accomplished during this past year.
“I’m proud to have been part of that movement, but I’m also a realist,” she said. “There are still many hurdles the Council will be facing in the coming year. I think the timing is critical to field a Council with members who are competent forward-thinkers willing and able to tackle these adversities.”
She said she hopes that she has demonstrated to the town voters that she has those attributes.
The past few years have been hard on the town following the departure of three town managers and multiple staff vacancies. Tortello said she is grateful to the town employees for their resiliency during this time.
The Town Council took 10 months to find the right match for the town after former leader Cameron Clark’s dismissal in December. Amber Jones starts in the new role next week.
“I’m pleased the town manager we recently hired has the experience, skills and leadership ability to hit the ground running,” Tortello said.
As a town councilor, Tortello believes she should represent all people in Houlton and be accountable to the townspeople, she said.
She believes it’s important to commit time to attend meetings, show up prepared and informed on issues, have an open mind, listen and respond to citizen complaints and questions, be fair and transparent and positively promote Houlton.
The council’s important issues in the coming year include escalating property tax burdens driven by school and county costs and government funding shortfalls, the deteriorating road infrastructure and overall rising operational costs, she said.
“These are all important issues that must be addressed in order for Houlton to continue to be a desirable place to live and work, operate a business, raise a family or retire,” Tortello said.
Her vision for Houlton’s future is to see the town fulfill its potential.
“We’ve so many assets to work with. Two of the most essential are the people who live here and our strong sense of place,” she said. “I also have a personal goal if elected. It’s to assure the town’s business is conducted in a responsive, courteous, and fiscally responsible manner.”
