 |
| Patti Smith |
SOUTH PORTLAND — On Monday, South Portland City Councilor Patti Smith got a
nice nod of recognition to go along with her recent re-election victory –
unanimous election as the city’s next mayor.
“I haven’t been here very long, I’ve only lived in Maine
since 2004,” she said, her voice choking with emotion. “I just jumped into this
arena without any history because I just love it here, and I have been made
rich by all of the people here [on the council]. I just have a lot of respect
for all of you.”
Smith, 47, lives with her partner of 18 years, environmental
consultant Susan Chase. She works at Planet Dog in Portland, a worldwide maker,
distributor and retailer of doggie treats, toys and accessories. Her official
title is director of strategic initiatives, domestic sales, operations and
human resources.
Smith won praise from all of her peers on the City Council,
but especially her predecessor, Mayor Rosemarie De Angelis, who made the
nomination.
“Patti Smith is an outstanding example of intelligence, of
ethical standards and of vision,” said De Angelis. “I think she brings a great
presence to the council.”
For her part, Smith said Tuesday that her primary goal is to
not screw up a good thing.
“I’m just thrilled to be a part of this council,” she said.
“I’ve been really impressed with how we’ve been able to get good things done.
We’re not afraid to disagree, but we always do it in a respectful way and at
the end of the day it’s a good, working team.”
An avid gardener and hiker, Smith said she will remain an
advocate for South Portland’s open spaces, while also balancing school and
service needs with the needs of taxpayers. “We want to cherish and preserve out
small-town feel, and make sure people are able to afford to live here.”
No comments:
Post a Comment