Wed, 03/13/2024 - 12:00pm

Lynda Clancy

Marc Ratner, of Camden, is running for an open seat on the three-person Board of Knox County Commissioners. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

CAMDEN — Marc Ratner, a former Camden Select Board member, has been gathering signatures from citizens in order to get his name on the November ballot as a candidate for Knox County Commissioner.

If elected first in the June 11 primary as the Democrat nominee, and in the Nov. 5, 2024 general elections, Ratner would serve District 2, which includes Camden, Rockport, Hope, Isle au Haut, Matinicus Isle Plantation, North Haven, Owls Head, Rockport, Vinalhaven the Unorganized Territories of Criehaven and Muscle Ridge islands.

There are three Knox County Commissioners that oversee county functions: District and Superior courts, Knox County Jail and Sheriff’s Office, Knox Regional Communications Center dispatch, all in Rockland; and the Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head). There has been movement toward increasing the number of commissioners from three to five, but that will take legislative action in 2025.

Richard Parent, Jr., of Warren, has been a Knox County Commissioner for 16 years, representing District 2, which comprises Appleton, Cushing, Friendship, Union, Warren and Washington. He has said he will not run again.

Sharyn Pohlman, of Camden, currently represents District 3. She said Feb. 27, “At this time I am not planning on running for another term.”

Ed Glaser, of Rockland, serves District 1, which includes Rockland, Saint George, South Thomaston and Thomaston. His term is not over until December 2026.

Ratner said he is running for Pohlman’s seat because he is committed to public service.

“For over 40 years I've done public service work,” he said. “Currently I'm on the board of directors and active member of our Coastal Mountain Search and Rescue team, which does search work and technical rescue based out of the Midcoast. You may have seen us mentioned in much rescue coverage, particularly in rescues at Camden Hills State Park. I remain committed to public service.”

He is concerned about the situation at Knox Regional Communications Center, which almost collapsed in August 2023 due to a personnel exodus, and now relies on Waldo County Regional Communications Center in Belfast for 911 service.

“Before doing SAR work here in the Midcoast I was a reserve Deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 32 years,” said Ratner. “My major occupation there was with one of the LASD search and rescue teams. I was Captain of one of those units for seven years. In addition, I was also an EMT with the department. I am very knowledgeable about how important the position of a 911 operator is. Without a well trained professional person in that chair both the public and the responding emergency unit, whether it be police, fire or EMS, are at risk. We need expertise overseeing that department.”

Ratner said that with his six years serving on the Camden Select Board, and additional years on Camden committees, including the Budget Committee, “I recognize how difficult it is for a town to handle all that comes it's way by itself.”

He said: “Currently there is much flux in the EMS situation in Knox County and many of the local towns have been trying for years to work together provide the best emergency service for their citizens. Quite frankly I'm surprised that the County hasn't stepped in to provide guidance and assistance and act, as say an older sibling, in helping to bring all the towns together to work out the best solution. I would like to help that happen.”