Shepard challenges Greenlaw for school board seat

DEER ISLE—Long-time Deer Isle-Stonington school board member Lawrence P. “Skip” Greenlaw faces a challenge from William “Bill” Shepard in the upcoming March election.

- LESLIE LANDRIGAN

The CSD board seat is the only contested public office on the island this season. Voting for Deer Isle residents is Saturday, March 7, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at town hall. A final vote tally will happen after Stonington votes on March 13.

The Deer Isle results will be announced at Town Meeting on the afternoon of March 7, said Town Clerk Heather Cormier.

“We have to release the results as soon as we have the results,” Cormier said. “I thought it was a little unfair.”

Lawrence “Skip” Greenlaw

Greenlaw has been coming to Deer Isle since 1946 but moved here in 1970. After graduating from the University of Maine-Orono, he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, where he served six years, and then worked for Gov. Joseph Brennan. In 1982, Greenlaw became the manager of the Stonington Lobster Co-op, a job he held for 17 years. He got interested in literacy when one of his employees confessed he couldn’t read, and he then won an appointment to the school board. Greenlaw has served on the school board for 32 years. He also serves on the board of directors of the Maine School Management Association, a statewide federation of school boards.

Why are you seeking election? “I’m still interested in doing all I can to educate children. Literacy is a big concern. It’s such a challenge to educate kids in the 21st century, and there are so many opportunities.” Greenlaw also loves doing it. “I love the administration part of it, I love making decisions, I love working with the teachers and the kids. It’s been a great privilege.”

What are the important issues?