This is the AOC Bulletin; the place to keep up with all things advocacy in Aroostook County

The AOC Bulletin:

Local Elections

Support your local candidates!

Just wanted to send a quick update and ask

We have some amazing local candidates running for state offices. If you are able, please consider contributing just $5 on the Maine.gov/CleanElections website for the candidates within your district.

If you aren't in the district, consider sharing with friends and family who are!

Janel Underwood-Charette for State Senate District 2:
Presque Isle to Maxfield

See the Senate Map here

Lori Kenneson for State Representative of District 5: Presque Isle

Not currently on the Clean Elections website but stay tuned for how you can help:

Jennifer Levesque for State Representative of District 1:
Allagash to Masardis

Melanie Tompkins for State Representative of District 6:
Mapleton to Littleton +

See the full map here
See the list of towns here

Opioid Settlement Funds Update

A quick update about the opioid funds: The county commissioners declined to reconsider their approval of the SRO proposal. The county administrator, Justin Tibetts, wrote in an email that they:

"...we do not anticipate using the full amount. The portion of the officer's salary funded through opioid settlement funds will be prorated to cover the 180 day school year. Any additional hours worked outside of the school calendar will be funded through the County/Sheriff's Office budget, not with opioid settlement funds. This ensures that settlement funds are used solely for prevention related activities within the school setting. At this time, no vehicle or other method of transportation has been purchased for this position. Should the award include funding for transportation, any associated costs would be prorated based on the vehicle's use for the LEAD program to ensure that opioid settlement funds are allocated only to the program's eligible use."

AOC Gather & Grow

August's Gather & Grow Meeting
August 15th 10am at the FORT FAIRFIELD Public Library
339 Main St Fort Fairfield
Zoom Available: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89902260018

Radical Book Club

The Radical Book Club read Coming Up Short by Robert Reich. We are still in discussion about providing his class, Wealth & Poverty, to our community. More info to come!