Augusta, Maine - Boothbay Town Manager James D. Chaousis II and Vassalboro Town Manager Mary Sabins have won elections to the 12-member Executive Committee that helps to guide the priorities and operations of Maine Municipal Association.Chaousis, a Maine native and a former U.S. Marine who is a Persian Gulf War veteran, became manager in the Town of Boothbay in 2010, having previously worked as manager in the Town of Livermore Falls. Chaousis, in seeking to serve on the MMA Executive Committee, said municipalities in Maine are embracing technology and transparency with citizens.
“The next step is helping local government educate the public on these areas,” Chaousis said. “I would like to be a part of the effort to bring local government forward.”
Chaousis’ nomination was supported by Charles Cunningham, Chair of the Board of Selectman in Boothbay, and by municipal officials in Lewiston, Auburn, Edgecomb and Southport. He is a graduate of the University of Maine. Chaousis and his wife, Elizabeth, have two daughters. They live in Boothbay.
Chaousis recently received the annual “Leadership Award” from the Maine Town, City & County Management Association. He is a Director of the Boothbay Harbor Regional Chamber of Commerce and is active in various regional and local economic-development organizations.Sabins, a 2001 graduate of the University of Maine-Augusta, began working for the Town of Vassalboro in 2008. She previously worked as manager for the towns of Windsor (2001-05) and Chelsea (2006-07). She also worked for School Administrative District No. 40 in Waldoboro and in various municipal positions for the towns of Hope and Union, dating to 1988.
Sabins is hopeful that the breadth of her professional municipal and school experience can bring a strong perspective to MMA.
“As does any manager, I have planning, budgeting and organizations skills to bring to the organization, along with problem-solving skills to resolve challenges,” said Sabins. “I will provide a new, open-minded look at the organization.”
Lauchlin W. Titus, Selectman in the Town of Vassalboro, said Sabins possesses a “calm, thoughtful and well-organized mind” that has benefitted his town and will be an asset to MMA. He credited Sabins with finding grant money that boosted Vassalboro’s recycling program and for “significantly improving” the town’s investment policy during her five-year tenure as manager.
Sabins and her husband, Scot, were honored with the East Union Pioneer Grange Community Service Award several years ago. They have lived in Union for more than 30 years and have organized the “Hooked on Fishing” events in Union for the past nine years, in honor of their late son, Mike. The Sabins also have a son, Kevin, who works as a heavy equipment mechanic for O’Connor GMC in Augusta.
Both Sabins and Chaousis will participate in the MMA Executive Committee’s Strategic Planning Meeting on Sept. 19-20 in Oakland. They officially begin three-year terms on the MMA Executive Committee in January 2014.
About the Maine Municipal Association: Founded in 1936, the MMA is a voluntary, non-partisan, member-service organization to which 486 municipalities in Maine belong. It has a core belief that local government is a fundamental component of a democratic system of government. MMA’s services include advocacy, education and information, professional legal and personnel advisory services and self-funded group insurance programs.
