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Drew Gattine and Bill Holmes are competing for the council's Ward 2 seat.

By ANN S. KIM Staff Writer October 27, 2007

Incumbent Drew Gattine, a Democrat, is facing a challenge from Republican Bill Holmes, the emergency communications director for Cumberland County and a former candidate for sheriff, in the City Council Ward 2 election Nov. 6.

In Westbrook, the mayor and the entire seven-member City Council are up for election every two years. The elections for mayor, Ward 1, Ward 2 and at-large City Council seats are contested this year.

BILL HOLMES

AGE: 49

PERSONAL: Married, two children

EDUCATION: Associate degree in law enforcement technology, Southern Maine Community College; graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy

OCCUPATION: Cumberland County emergency communications director

POLITICAL/CIVIC EXPERIENCE: Westbrook Zoning Board of Appeals, 2006-present; Westbrook American Legion, 2005- present; Maine Sheriffs Association; Navy, 1975-1978; appointed by Gov. John Baldacci to the Maine Interoperable Communications Committee, August 2007; Maine State Golfers Association; Riverside Golfers Association

ON THE ISSUES: Holmes promises to be a fair and effective leader for the residents of the city.

He said he will also be a fiscal conservative who will work to reduce the tax burden on the community. He said he wants to create a successful economic development program by attracting businesses that will provide tax revenue to the city.

Holmes, a former captain in the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, believes the single most important role of government is ensuring the safety of its citizens. He said that he will be a strong advocate for the public safety agencies of Westbrook.

DREW GATTINE

AGE: 44

PERSONAL: Married, two children

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in classics, Colgate University; law degree, Columbia University School of Law

OCCUPATION: Co-founder of HWT, Inc., a health care technology company

POLITICAL/CIVIC EXPERIENCE: Assistant attorney general, 1992-1998; City Council, 2004-present; Board of Directors, Westbrook Environmental Improvement Corp.; Executive Committee, Greater Portland Council of Governments

ON THE ISSUES: Gattine said Westbrook must strengthen the character of its residential neighborhoods and open spaces. He said the city also needs to make neighborhoods safer by fighting crime and controlling traffic.

Gattine said he supports "smart economic growth" that will provide decent jobs and a sustainable tax base. He said projects need to be measured against the goal of tax relief and improved services for residents.

Gattine said city government needs to be more accountable on spending and do a better job of evaluating whether programs are truly benefiting residents.

Staff Writer Ann Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at:

akim@pressherald.com