Rising fuel costs, school budgets and county obligations add up quickly, making any local tax increase incredibly difficult for household budgets, a Houlton Town Council candidate said Monday.
“Our most immediate challenge is easing the property tax burden on residents,” said sitting Councilor John “J.J.” Schools, who is seeking a three-year council term in November.
Schools, 55, was appointed to a Town Council seat last October, following the resignation of several councilors in the wake of the former town manager’s arrest.
Since that time, Schools, a retired U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer, and other town leaders have focused on righting the ship following a challenging time for this Aroostook County town of 6,000.
“I am running for a three-year term to keep our positive momentum going and protect the town we love,” he said. “I am confident that with the right leadership at the helm, we can revitalize Houlton.”
In recent years it has been a challenge to fill town leadership roles, but the upcoming November election has drawn seven candidates for five open seats.
In addition to Schools, also on the ballot for one of three open three-year terms is Councilor Sue Tortello, who picked up a one-year seat with 1,035 votes in last year’s special general election. Declared write-in candidates Matt Carr and former Council Chairman Chris Robinson are also vying for a three-year seat.
Councilor Fred Grant and declared write-in candidate Daniel Dobbs are running for one open two-year term and Councilor Jeffrey Maquire is running against challenger Darrell Scott White for a one-year term.
At this time, the council has a “delicate, beautiful balance to maintain” by preserving a close-knit, small-town vibe while also growing the local business base, Schools said, adding that the council must manage hurdles through strict fiscal discipline and strategic planning.
“My role as a councilor is to serve as a practical steward of your tax dollars,” he said. “This means digging deep into operational budgets to eliminate inefficiencies rather than cutting services.”
The retired Navy officer advocates for patience when filling municipal vacancies.
The town can rebuild community trust by executing a disciplined, quality-first hiring strategy to fill vital vacant town positions with the right leadership instead of rushing to fill employment vacancies with quick fixes, he said.
His top three priorities include: Taxpayer relief by vetting municipal expenses aggressively to keep local property taxes stable; infrastructure investment by prioritizing the long-overdue repair and replacement of the town’s streets that are in “desperate need of replacement”; and balanced growth by expanding the downtown commercial base while attracting outside investment that fits the community’s character.
“My priority is, and always will be, the long-term good of Houlton and its residents,” Schools said. “By prioritizing road rehabilitation and supporting our new town manager, the council can systematically fix our infrastructure while maintaining absolute transparency.”
Schools lives in Houlton with his wife, Alysia. They have three children and four grandchildren.
