Greg Altznauer
Killdeer Road
Education: Ohio Wesleyan University. B.A. Economics Management.
Occupation: Software Consultant
Age: 40’s  
Party Affiliation:  Independent
Political experience: Yes
Civic associations: Fort Williams Advisory Committee, Friends of the Presumpscot River Board, and many other organizations.
Statement about candidacy: If elected I will fight for what the citizens of Cape Elizabeth want. Strong schools, lower taxes, and preserving the town’s rural character.



Paul J. McKenney
5 Katahdin Road
Education: BA Philosophy/History, Rochester Institute of Technology; MA Public Administration, Minnesota State University
Occupation:  Financial Planner, Lt. Colonel in U.S. Army Reserves
Age:  47
Party Affiliation: Registered Independent
Political Experience: Current Town Council Chairman, Finance Chairman  (one year), Town Councilor (three years), Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) chairman of Community Economic Development Committee, current President, two years Vice President, three years Executive Board.
Civic Associations: Member Rotary International; Chair, National Eagle Scout Association, Pine Tree Council;  Member Cape Elizabeth Land Trust; US Army Reserves, teach graduate studies in military leadership, history, and strategic studies.
Statement about candidacy: I have relevant experience as a town and regional leader as well as relevant and ongoing education to help prepare the Town of Cape Elizabeth for the future.  I am a long-term resident with three grown children who graduated from the Cape Elizabeth School System. My family and I have benefited from living in the Cape Elizabeth community. As a Town Councilor, I would like to see that the same quality of life continues for everyone.


Mary Ann Lynch
2 Olde Colony Lane
Education: attended Rutgers University;  B.A. USM; J.D. University of Maine School of Law
Occupation: 6 years private law practice at Verrill  & Dana, Portland; 7 years as V. P. & General Counsel, Maine Yankee; 3 years as an energy consultant; currently full time homemaker.
Age: 52
Party Affiliation: Independent
Political experience: Town Council 2001 to present; Cumberland County Budget Advisory Committee, representing District 2, Cape, Scarborough, and South Portland.
Civic associations: Thomas Memorial Library Foundation and former TML Trustee;  Director, Portland Head Light; Volunteer, Wayside Evening Soup Kitchen and St. Bartholomew Church; Member, Cape Elizabeth Land Trust; former member, Richards’ Pool renovation committee; Member, High school and Kindergarten Wing Building Committee.
Statement about candidacy: In my six years on the Council I have learned that there are no easy solutions to the goals of good stewardship of town assets and of fiscal responsibility. As town councilors we need to also approach our responsibilities to the citizens, and to future generations, with vision and foresight. We enjoy Fort Williams today because earlier town councils had the vision to purchase the property and make it a park. I have worked hard to listen to the residents, take time to gather the facts, and to balance the many competing needs that come before us as a town. More than ever, I see that it is a community effort. I appreciate and recognize the great work of our town and school employees, and the numerous community groups and school volunteers, who every day work to make these goals of good stewardship and fiscal responsibility a reality. I love Cape Elizabeth and it has been a privilege to serve the people of Cape Elizabeth.

Municipal spending:
Greg Altznauer: Supporting “Green” initiatives for our schools and buildings. Support the need to preserve infrastructure but I am opposed to excess spending on pavement, buildings, etc.
Mary Ann Lynch: Our town has many assets: a high quality and nationally recognized school system, superb community services, and excellent recreational and fitness facilities. Maintaining and improving these assets costs money. In my six years on the Council I have learned that there are no easy solutions to the twin goals of good stewardship and fiscal responsibility. My goal has been, and will continue to be, an abiding commitment to support and maintain these assets for future generations while bringing a responsible and moderate approach to spending tax dollars.
Paul McKenney: I support adequate municipal spending to continue quality services and infrastructure.
Tax-reform priorities:
Lynch: The most important thing we can do locally is to make responsible and moderate spending decisions. Cape Elizabeth just learned that it qualified as a high performing and efficient school district and it would not have to merge with South Portland or Scarborough under the school consolidation law. This was accomplished because (in the face of mandatory proposals like TABOR and Palesky) the Town Council moderated the increases in spending AND the school board put the resources in the classroom, not in administration. Despite being one of the most economic school systems in the area, Cape Elizabeth was recently named as one of the top 25 places to live and go to school in the nation, and it was the only town in New England on the list.
McKenney: I support greater regional collaboration where it makes sense to reduce overall cost and improve efficiencies.
Altznauer: If elected I will fight to not raise taxes, but find ways to lower them.
Growth and development:
McKenney: I support town and regional smart growth, working collaboratively with our regional neighbors. Also, in October, the Town Council unanimously passed the Comprehensive Plan that will help guide us in our growth and development plans for the future.
Lynch: Cape Elizabeth is primarily a residential suburb of Portland. I agree with the vision of the newly adopted Comprehensive Plan: to preserve Cape Elizabeth as a highly desirable place to live by expanding open spaces and accessible trails, encouraging the preservation of working farms, continuing the current slow pace and pattern of development and maintaining excellant educational and municipal services.
Altznauer: Smart, environmentally responsible development. Protecting our farms and open space from development. I would push for a $500,000 bond for the acquisition of two or three properties deemed critical in keeping with the rural character.
Education funding:
Altznauer: I am against a cap on school spending and also understand the urgency to work harmoniously with the school board in light of consolidation pressures and the town-wide vote on school budgets.
Lynch: Education is a top priority and is reflected in the fact that the schools receive 72 percent of our tax dollars. I would continue that priority.
McKenney: I support adequate funding to maintain high-quality schools and programs in order to help maintain the independence of our school district.
Economic development:
Lynch: The Town Center and the two small business districts contain a core group of retail and other services to meet the everyday needs of town residents. I do not support further expansion of business within Cape Elizabeth, unless it is consistent with the town’s residential character.
McKenney: Support regional economic development that fosters the green economy through more high tech infrastructure to support low impact job growth.
Altznauer: Keep the schools strong and the town will thrive.
Infrastructure priorities:
Altznauer: Modest alterations to encourage safe walking, biking, and jogging. Would love to see the town center developed like the recent CELT building with an emphasis on landscape and a tasteful, modest building that fits into the environment.
Lynch: Having completed the high school renovation and the kindergarten wing in recent years, the biggest priority on the school side is responsible maintenance of the assets. On the municipal side, much of the sewer system is very old and needs replacement, and keeping the roads in good condition is critical for safe transportation. Fort Williams is a national, as well as local, treasure and must be adequately maintained.
McKenney: The next infrastructure priority is the Town Center Project.
Spending priorities:
Lynch: We need to insure public health and safety, i.e. police and fire protection, provide an excellent public school education, protect the environment, i.e., solid waste disposal, recycling, and protection of the natural environment.
McKenney: Equally weighted priorities include: municipal services, school system, and the upcoming Town Center Project.
Altznauer: Schools, land acquisition, Fort Williams infrastructure upgrades and support for recreation and exercise (parks, athletic fields, pedestrian and biking safety in the town center).
Municipal spending cuts:
Altznauer: Unnecessarily giving a developer $80,000 for a sewer line. That is a cost the developer should absorb, not the town’s taxpayer. Reduce development of our land and thereby reduce taxes.
Lynch: We need to always be willing to look for savings and to work smarter. I think the current budget is very lean, but I’m open to suggestions from the public, and of course, our municipal and school employees.
McKenney: None – we run a very efficient municipal government and school system. I don’t support any cuts.
Goals for the next term:
McKenney: 1. Maintain a reasonable municipal budget with low taxes; 2. Maintain high quality municipal services and school system. 3. Continue to expand open space through policy making and land acquisitions.
Lynch: The greatest challenge facing our town is protecting our natural environment, supporting our schools and maintaining the level of community and public services that our citizens currently enjoy. More specifically, the state school consolidation law mandates reductions in a number of categories of the school budget and mandates voter approval of the school budget. These new mandates will severely challenge the schools and town in the years ahead.  Implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and preservation of open spaces, while respecting the rights of landowners, many of whom have generously permitted public use over the years, will be a major challenge. Accomplishing these tasks with vision and foresight and in a fiscally responsible manner is challenging but, working together, eminently possible. As stated above, my only agenda in serving our town has been, and will continue to be, an abiding commitment to you to support and maintain our town assets for future generations while bringing a responsible and moderate approach to spending tax dollars.
Altznauer: 1) $500,000 Bond for land acquisition, 2) Propose creation of an Inland Wetland & Watercourse Committee, and 3) Launch a creative, ambitious, community-wide effort to raise funds for overdue upgrades to Fort Williams infrastructure.
What are the issues voters bring up most often?
Altznauer: The common thread I hear when speaking to my fellow neighbors is apathy in the political process. People say, “It doesn’t matter what the survey results are or what I think; the town will do whatever they want.” I want to change that! I will be honored to listen and make the changes you request.
Lynch: Maintaining high quality schools and preservation of open space and working farms, as well as controlling government spending and rising property taxes. I have worked to assure that the school budget is sufficient to maintain the high quality of our schools, while at the same time doing so in a fiscally responsible manner. I served on the Comprehensive Plan committee and I’ve voted for the acquisition of strategic land parcels, such as preservation (along with the Land Trust) of the Jordan Farm.
McKenney: Voters say to keep doing what I’m doing.
Ways voters can differentiate you from your opponents:
Altznauer: 1) Provide ample funds for the schools, 2) Seek to aggressively protect our farms, open space and wetlands, 3) Believe in bottom up, rather than top down government. Plan to listen to the citizens first and set policy second.
Lynch: I am a long time resident and taxpayer, having lived and raised a family in Cape Elizabeth continuously since 1984. 2. I have shown the restraint necessary to make responsible spending decisions without mandates like TABOR and Palesky, the latter of which would have dealt a devastating blow to municipal and school services. In so doing, I kept my promise as an elected official. 3. My legal and management experience have taught me the importance of listening to people and of taking the time to gather the facts necessary to support reasoned and balanced decisions.
McKenney: Voters say that I bring balance and reasonableness in the budget and spending priorities.