Hello Gorham! I am running for town council to advocate for transparent government that values community input.
My mission is to help Gorham build a sustainable future and preserve our quality of life.
Who I am
I graduated from University of Southern Maine (2009) and ran a small furniture-moving business to support myself through college. In 2010, I helped start and grow a great local business in Portland called Bayside Bowl, and along the way earned a Master’s Degree at University of New Hampshire (2014), which included studies in community planning, economics, and natural resource management — my Master’s research project focused on the economic challenges facing New England dairy farmers.
For the past eleven years, I’ve worked up the ranks at a non-profit investment organization (Maine Technology Institute) where I am a Senior Investment Officer supporting a large portfolio of startups and established businesses growing and creating quality jobs throughout Maine. I’ve learned so much helping Maine businesses meet the many challenges of our rapidly changing economy.
My wife grew up in Gorham and we chose to make Gorham our home to raise our son. He attends Village School and our family is rooted in Gorham for the long haul. After our divisive school budget battles of 2023, I decided to run for town council — and I am so grateful that the people of Gorham chose me to help address our town’s challenges. I have spent these past three years listening to our residents and trying to educate myself as to how other communities are dealing with challenges similar to those we face here in Gorham.
We have much work yet to do, if we are to chart a more sustainable future for our community. I ask the people of Gorham for your vote to continue this important work!
Where I stand
I recognize that higher tax bills create real challenges for some in our community. I also accept the fact that inflation increases annual operating costs for our schools and town services. If we all work together, we can find ways to make smart investments without over-burdening home-owners. As I work to position our town for a more sustainable future, here are the values that drive my thinking:
Transparency and Community Input
Our town council must be responsive to the input of our people. Our townsfolk deserve to know where their money is going and why their tax bills go up. We should prioritize our people and our quality of life above the private profits of large corporations.
Greater Collaboration
Town and school teams can work collaboratively to ensure a responsible budget that supports our kids and our community as efficiently as possible — we have made important strides in this regard over the past three years, including the lowest mil-rate increase in recent years (FY25 $14.70 / FY26 $14.80) but there are many challenges ahead, with inflation continuing to outpace income gains for most of us. Gorham can increase collaboration with regional partners to access state and national resources that will help us invest in our community while mitigating impact on local taxpayers.
Informed Decisions
Different types of development bring very different costs and benefits to our community. Our town council must work to ensure that we are making decisions with the most complete information possible. Town leaders must weigh the positive and negative impacts of each decision we make. And we must thoughtfully consider the varying perspectives of our constituents — even those we disagree with.
Preserve our Family Farms, Open Spaces and Trails
Gorham offers a unique quality of life that we all must work together to preserve for generations to come. Improving practical connectivity throughout our excellent trail networks can help residents of all ages access daily needs while enjoying the precious brilliance of our natural world.
Small Business Support
For the past eleven years, I’ve helped small businesses find the resources they need to grow here in Maine. On Gorham’s Town Council, I will work to support local entrepreneurship throughout our community. Encouraging more people-friendly, local businesses is a great way to invest in our community and broaden the tax-base.
I can offer our town council a thoughtful perspective and a willingness to work with all sides to find the best path forward. I have learned much and met many good people along the trail thus far — Gorham truly is a great community!
I want to hear from all our townsfolk, so that we can bring as many creative solutions to the table as possible. Email me your questions and ideas at: VoteLouSimmsforGorham@gmail.com