Craig Gagne

Age: 45

Home: Springvale

Phone: (Day) 888-575-7425

Occupation: Since retiring from the sheriff’s office, I have operated my own business working with the U.S. State Department and its Diplomatic Security Service program overseas. In January, I ended my contract as a deputy project manager so that I could focus full-time on this campaign.

Marital status: Married

Spouse: Amy Gagne

Children: four

Education: high school Name and location of school or university last attended:  Law Enforcement Training Institute at Babson College, Wellesley, Mass., command training program.

Prior political experience: None

How would you address crime trends in York County rural communities?

In talking to citizens in the rural communities I have found that they feel abandoned and disconnected from their law enforcement resources. These communities are unique and their needs are diverse. We have to create an effective business model that develops long-standing relationships with those citizens and allows them input regarding the services they are receiving. By working with those citizens, their local leaders and educators and by building a more effective plan with the state police to increase proficiency and decrease redundancy of services, we will see a successful reduction in crime.

Are you satisfied with the coverage provided by the sheriff’s department? If so, why? If not, what will you do to improve coverage?

The coverage provided has been totally inadequate. A year ago we saw the layoffs of deputies for the first time in the history of York County as a result of “unforeseen” budgetary problems. Although those positions have just been restored, until recently there has not been 24-hour police coverage in the rural towns. This is unacceptable by any means as is the fact that the urban communities, who make the largest contributions to the budget, are for the most part ignored. We need to be creative with our business plan and we have to return to the basics. We need to dispense with expenses not directly beneficial to our basic law enforcement purpose; we need to have scheduling solutions to maximize coverage; we need to work with the employee unions; and we need to exploit our salaried administrative positions to reduce overtime costs and help in expanding services to the urban areas.

What are your top spending priorities for the department?

Adequate training and education of the employees.

Why are you seeking elected office?

Passion for the sheriff’s department and a passion for law enforcement. I am not a politician and this is not a retirement job for me. I have spent the better part of my life working for the citizens of York County and my knowledge of the department, its flaws, its strengths and the executive and technical skills I will be able to bring with me create an excitement of what could be. I believe this office is in need of a new perspective and I welcome the opportunity to provide that.

Maurice R. Ouellette

Age: 63

Home: Cornish                       

Phone: (Day) 324-1113; (Night) 625-8438

Occupation: York County sheriff

Marital Status: Married

Spouse: Bonnie

Children: five

Education: St. Ignatius High School

Name and location of school or university last attended:

Graduate National Sheriffs Institute- Longmont, Colo., executive development.

Organizations and activities:

Maine Sheriffs Association; FBI LEEDA

Executive Association;  NEORVCA; International Association of Chiefs of Police; Ossipee Valley Agricultural Association; Maine Agricultural Fairs Association; Chairman Finance Committee St. Matthews Church, Limerick; Member Cornish budget committee.

Prior Political Experience:

SAD 55 school board; Member Democratic Consolidated Committee (1993); Delegate York County to State Committee Convention; Elected sheriff 2006.

How would you address crime trends in York County rural communities?

As the rural areas in York County increase in population I am seeing more major crimes such as drug trafficking, robberies and accidents. With budgets being tight, I have partnered with the York County Community College criminal justice course to take advantage of an intern program where students will work at the sheriff’s office and provide crime analysis that will allow us to place our resources as well as interpret crime trends and locations, which make it easier to assign patrols in affected areas. It will also assist detectives in tracking crimes in other jurisdictions and work on them jointly.

Are you satisfied with the coverage provided by the sheriff’s department? If so, why? If not, what will you do to improve coverage?

Without additional funds it is extremely important to use existing resources wisely. I judge the success of the operation by the Uniform Crime Reporting System, which is a report to the FBI pertaining to the clearing criminal cases.

These cases include murder, robbery, burglary, arson, aggravated assault and rape. Our agency had a 41 percent clearance rate last year, which I believe per work load is the highest in the state for all sheriff’s offices as well as in the upper portion of the entire state, including state police and local law enforcement. I believe we are doing a good job but I am always looking for ways to improve our service.

What are your top spending priorities for the department?

Given that the budget for the sheriff’s office is approximately 80 percent personnel, it is extremely important for me to manage these funds so that I am not faced with any further layoffs.

My budget for this year is in the black and will finish in the black even though I have returned all the deputies who were laid off last year.

The remaining portion other than utilities and necessities will be spent making sure our officers have the equipment necessary to do their jobs as well as all the safety equipment that will protect them.

Why are you seeking elected office?

I have been a police officer for my entire working life. I joined the sheriff’s office in 1999 as chief deputy for Sheriff Philip Cote and served as second in command for eight years. I chose to run for sheriff in 2006 because I wanted to continue to move the department in a positive direction.

Since being elected sheriff, the department has received three awards from the federal government for our active participation in the successful prosecution of a drug operation involving an outlaw motorcycle gang as well as a smuggling operation with worldwide implications.

We have also been the recipient of hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grants saving taxpayers money on purchases of equipment and personnel.

We continue to have high clearance rates in cases reported as well as assisting other agencies with their cases.

In 2008 the York County Jail was inspected by the department of corrections and received a score of 100 percent for operational accuracy as well as 100 percent for policies and procedures of which I am extremely proud and want to continue to achieve.

Our civil process division continues to operate at a high level of efficiency and continues to look for ways to improve on that service.

I am currently in process of obtaining national accreditation of the jail and once completed look to move to the police services side of the house and obtain the same.