Belfast, ME — Ryan Harnden is excited to announce his re-election campaign for the RSU 71 Board of Directors. Ryan is an ardent supporter of public education and has served on the board for four years. Previously, he served on the RSU 3 School Board between 2011-2015, culminating in his role as Chairperson for two years. Ryan works in Belfast, is a parent of two students in the district, and has been active with other community organizations, including the Belfast Lions Club, serving three terms as President. He’s also served on the Waldo County Technical Center Board, Maine Citizens Trade Policy Commission, Belfast Planning Board and the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Ryan has been the Chair of the Finance Committee for the duration of his time on the RSU 71 board and for two years on the RSU 3 board. He is well-versed in Maine school finance and has worked hard to balance the district's needs with the realities of our economic environment. As a member of the Board, Ryan has fought against unnecessary assessment increases and helped provide solutions that added jobs to the area without raising taxes unnecessarily.
Ryan has advocated for an inclusive environment for all RSU 71 students, supporting various policies that protect all students. “Schools may be the only safe environment for many of our district’s children,” he says. “It is the board's responsibility to make it as safe as possible for all of the kids in our schools.”
Ryan has a proven track record of listening to and supporting teachers through policies, curriculum, and programming, as well as finding creative budget solutions to add support for the district’s educators.
“Ultimately, I serve the students of RSU 71, and every vote I cast is with their best interests in mind,” he says. “Personal politics and views do not work on a school board. We need to give our kids our best, and I have tried to do that for the nearly decade of service I’ve given to local school districts.”
For more information about Ryan Harnden's campaign and his vision for RSU 71, please visit his campaign website, www.ryanharnden.com.
