Copyright Bangor Daily News
The issue of transgender student policies in public education has been amplified in another Maine school board race by an outside conservative group. After one of the three candidates seeking two seats representing Belfast on the RSU 71 Board of Directors dropped out, a write-in candidate entered to counter the conservative beliefs of another. The Maine First Project has sent mailers promoting that candidate, Alva Philbrook, saying he would advocate to keep transgender girls off of female sports teams and restrooms, which Philbrook has disputed. Alva Philbrook and incumbent Martha Proulx are on the ballot Nov. 4 along with Rachel Philbrook, who has withdrawn. The two Philbrooks are former in-laws. Madison Cook is running a write-in campaign. Alva Philbrook, Proulx and Cook all attended area schools and said they wanted to give back to the community. It’s not clear whether RSU 71 currently has transgender students or if such policies are an issue for the Waldo County school district, which includes Belfast, Belmont, Morrill, Searsmont and Swanville. But it’s another example of local elections being shaped by transgender student policies, which have been hot-button issues across the state. This spring, that debate brought Maine into the national spotlight after Gov. Janet Mills clashed with President Donald Trump over state law on the subject. In person, the Belfast race has stayed civil, with messaging largely focused on other subjects. Candidates said they have communicated with each other respectfully, though tensions among residents have flared on social media and a recent candidate forum. Alva Philbrook, who owns a drywall company, raised four children in town and with his wife is fostering two younger children. Proulx is a licensed social worker who worked for 38 years in the state’s child welfare system and now trains new foster parents and caseworkers at the University of Southern Maine. Cook taught rural design at Virginia Tech and held administrative roles there before returning to Belfast this summer. As the race progressed, the conservative Maine First Project sent mailers urging residents to vote for Alva Philbrook. Run by activist and former Hancock County state representative Larry Lockman, the project encourages “Maine patriots” to get involved with school boards. It has sent out similar materials in other races, including one two years ago promoting a Sorrento candidate who said he did not know about it. The Belfast mailer urges residents to vote for Philbrook because he would advocate for teaching kids to read and write “instead of how to choose their pronouns and keep secrets from their parents.” It also says he would shield children from “radical transgender propaganda in the classroom” and keep transgender girls from using female restrooms and locker rooms or participating in sports. Philbrook told the Bangor Daily News he was not involved and asked Maine First not to send the flyer, which he felt misrepresented his priorities. He would support such policy changes if proposed, he said, but does not plan to push for them. “My priority is that I want the students to be taken care of and get a good education in a safe place,” he said. Lockman did not respond to a request for comment. Philbrook said he’s concerned about schools becoming politicized nationally and wants to support free debate in the classroom to help prepare students for adulthood. He did not know if concerns over transgender policies or free speech have become an issue in RSU 71. He said he recently heard from a local student that teachers are fair and hold back their personal opinions in the classroom, which he praised. Proulx said transgender student policies have not been a common public concern in the district in the last three years. In 2022, the board approved a policy with guidelines that include allowing transgender students to use the bathroom or locker room of their choice. Cook said in her experience of campaigning door-to-door, residents seem more focused on test scores, athletics and their children’s prospects after graduation. “I was really upset by the flier, but I was previously aware that Alva had those beliefs,” she said. Like Philbrook, she said others in the community asked her to run, and she entered the race before seeing the flyer. “When I was asked to run, I understood what was at stake.” Proulx entered the race earlier and said the subject didn’t motivate her candidacy. “People need to realize whatever their perspective is, boards need to follow the Maine Human Rights Act,” she said. Whoever voters choose will help also guide the district as it seeks a permanent superintendent after two years of interim leadership, weighs costly upgrades to aging facilities and tries to keep costs down. Candidates each listed budgeting as a priority and say they want to make sure teachers and students have what they need while spending wisely while focusing on academic performance. Philbrook said his other priorities include respecting differences of opinion in the classroom, involving parents and working to increase test scores. Cook is also concerned with future facilities upgrades and academic rigor along with student support. Proulx sees opportunities to expand community programs such as high school internships to offer more experience to students without spending more taxpayer dollars. Polls will be open at Tarratine Hall in downtown Belfast from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 4.
