Name: Elmer Berry

Party: Democrat

County Commission candidate for District 1 (incumbent), representing Durham, Greene, Leeds, Lisbon, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Sabattus, Turner and Wales

Address: 12 Daggett Hill Road, Greene

Phone: 784-8390; e-mail: androscounty [email protected]

Experience: Two four-year terms on the Androscoggin County Commission; Auburn School Committee; Auburn City Council; Maine State Senate; appointed by Gov. James Longley to the Commission to Revise State Juvenile Statutes; appointed by Gov. John Baldacci to the State Alternative Sentencing Commission; serving on the coalition to provide housing for homeless veterans. Most recently worked with others for the state jail revision law, which capped Androscoggin county taxpayers cost for jails at $4.2 million. Outside sources predict this bill will save taxpayers over a billion dollars over the next 20 years. Served on numerous other boards and committees.

Family: Wife Patricia, 2 daughters, 2 stepchildren, 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren

Occupation: Androscoggin County Commissioner, owner of Sparta Vending & Distributors-Amusement Games, owner of American Abatement-Asbestos, Environmental Hazardous Removal, owner of American Home Performance Energy Audits

Education: Edward Little High School and the University of Maine

Community organizations: Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Maine Children’s Cancer Program committeeman and fundraiser, past state president of the Maine Elks

Q. Why are you running for the County Commission?

A. I am running for re-election to continue to see that your tax dollars are not spent wastefully, and to continue to find ways to cut the cost of government. Now more than ever, experience is important.

Q. What do you think people want from county government?

A. I think people want accountability. I believe they want truth from their government and the press. They want the truth, not just what makes good press. I want these same things as a taxpayer and official.

Q. Much of the commission’s work is spent overseeing spending. Do you agree with how the county is spending its money? What would your priorities be?

A. It is the commission’s job to oversee spending and I do agree with the way the money is handled. We have a budget committee that oversees the budget. It is open every three years to the public for nomination and election. It is my wish that more people would get involved. There are those that want us to over spend or to spend monies before we get them. I have stood strong that that not be allowed to happen. My priorities are consolidation, once we know what the cities and towns want. Our dispatch and other departments prove that the county does it as good as it can be done and at much less cost.

Q. Do you think a commissioner ought to reside in the district that elected him or her?

A. My opinion on this is not important. What is important is what the law says.

Q. Do you favor a county charter?

A. A county charter at this point is up to the voters. It has been proposed in the past and soundly defeated. I myself proposed it in the past and voters let us know they did not want to again spend monies for a referendum that would result in thousands of dollars in added expense to the county through added personnel cost and government cost.