On June 11, or whenever you vote, you will see my name on the ballot running for Knox County Commissioner District 3 as a Democrat.

After six years on the Camden Select Board where the members do not run associated with party, I’m now running for a job that asks but doesn’t require a party registration. (If you don’t want to identify with a party you can run as an independent on the final ballot in November).

I’m proud to identify as a Democrat.

I want to be on this first ballot to run for County Commissioner because I want these upcoming months to educate the citizens of Knox County about the thoughts I have about the position.

Many people I speak to don’t even understand the role of the commissioners.

Think of it this way – the three county commissioners basically do for the county what select board members do for the towns.

Where I see a contribution that would help all the people in Knox County – is having the county take a role in helping the individual towns work together to share services.

I watched the Camden Select Board Candidates’ Forum the other day and observed that every candidate thinks that finding a way to continue to share EMS (Emergency Medical Services) with adjoining towns would be the best way to improve the system that is in desperate need of help.

What an advantage it would be to have the County act much like an older sibling and help bring the towns together to fix this problem. When I was on the Camden Select Board – we did discuss how much help it would be to have the county’s help – and I want to make that help happen.

This goes for our fire services as well. I noticed that Camden Select Board candidate Sophie Romana (and current Select Board member) got it right when she discussed that without supporting the vote to increase the number of professional firefighters / EMT’s – now that volunteer positions are no longer viable – our emergency services are on the verge of collapse.

Those of us who are experienced in EMS, (I worked with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept as a reserve deputy for 32 years – 20+ of those as an EMT trained special teams search & rescue deputy and locally I helped found and am a working member of CMSAR – Coastal Mountain Search & Rescue) know that the collapse of the Knox County 911 Communication Center (a big reason I want to serve as a Commissioner – to make sure that never happens again. My experience is very oriented towards that), could happen to our respective towns emergency services also.

Specifically – I have the experience to know what needs to be done – and I worry that without EMS expertise in the decision making boards and not enough understanding about the problems our EMS / Fire services face we will risk the safety of our local citizens.

Let me put it another way.

Maine has the oldest population in the country.

Think about dialing 911. For most people in our area – the chances are that when you need to make that very important call – it will be for EMS – to save someone’s life.

That’s why both our local fire department and many of our police officers are training or have been trained as EMTs.

Supporting our EMS / Fire infrastructure before it collapses will also save us money – it really will.

One last comment about the Candidate Forum in Camden – during the discussions - candidates mentioned work that had been done previously by past Select Boards – they mentioned, the solar farm, the move to update all our street lights to LEDs, rebuilding the wastewater plant, Camden being the first town in Maine to join the Global Covenant Of Mayors – in support of combating global warming and sea level rise.

Those were all ideas I was the first select board member to support. I believed that the job of our local officials is not just to renew licenses but to prepare for the future.

Yes there was initial expense in all those projects but in the long term all that infrastructure support will save us money. A lot of money.

Let’s work together to make smart investments in our future.

Please vote.

Marc Ratner lives in Camden