Marathon City Council Meeting

Last night, I sat in on the Orono City Council meeting — all 4.5 hours of it! The agenda was packed, covering everything from design updates at the Public Works building, Lake Improvement Districts at Stubbs Bay, a Conditional Use Permit for a garage condo development, the Long Lake Fire Department’s Annual Report, and a proposed amendment to the Fire Protection Agreement and Contract. (Video linked in the comments)

A few people jokingly asked if that marathon meeting made me second-guess running for office — but honestly, it had the opposite effect.

The room was filled with passionate, engaged residents who showed up ready to share their perspectives and listen to one another. Even when people disagreed, their care for this community stood out. That kind of civil discourse is the heartbeat of a healthy democracy — and it’s something I care deeply about.