Mary Beth Thomas

A brief biography of myself and why I decided to seek a seat on the Select Board: “Camden’s citizens would benefit from reevaluating their current relationship with abundance.”   I have been a year-round resident and homeowner in Camden for 40 years, with the exception of three years (2010-2013), during which I worked as a school Substance Abuse counselor at a military base in Wiesbaden, Germany, under a contract through the Department of Defense. providing counseling for vulnerable youth and their families.   I am a retired clinical social worker with additional training in family systems and addictions treatment.  I worked for many years in private practice as well as being the Director of Behavioral Health at Seaport Community Health Center in Belfast. I was also the clinical lead for Penobscot Community Health Center and provided supervision to 28 psychotherapists, consulting on difficult cases. I was married to James McKenzie “Mac” Thomas, (d. 2018) who was also a social worker, a

"Camden's citizens would benefit from reevaluating their current relationship with abundance." I am currently on the Budget Committee for the town of Camden. I have witnessed the pattern of accepting every proposed increase by the town office representing an over 8% increase in overall operating expenses. I believe we must stop this pattern. Many towns across the state have decided to keep their town budget the same as the previous year. I am weary of the perception that Camden is a town of wealthy citizens in which ongoing increases are the norm. The problem I have experienced is a lack of feedback, discussion, or consideration of reducing or even maintaining the current rate of spending. Although our town employees are well paid in accordance with other municipalities across the State, the select board approved an 8% cost of living raise across the board, despite the suggestion that the raise be approved only for the lower paid employees at the bottom of t