Lizzie Dickerson

Elizabeth Dickerson is a Rockland City Councilor.  She’s one year into a three-year term.  She ran twice before for the five-person council in 2000 and 2001 and was defeated.   Finally, in November 2008, Lizzie prevailed in her quest for a seat on the city council.  She was in good company.  The country had just elected its first African-American President, Barack Obama.

This 45-year-old Democrat got involved in local politics in 2000, when a council seat was up for grabs and only one person decided to run. “There were a lot of issues I was afraid wouldn’t get discussed. Having an unopposed candidate meant there would be no debate. We needed to have a horse race and take a closer look at that was happening in the city,” says Lizzie.  She points out that this was before the arts renaissance in Rockland, that it was at a time when it wasn’t clear that the downtown was going to blossom like it has. “Rockland could have gone the way of many small cities, where the downtown has been abandoned and shopping centers have sprung up elsewhere. An underlying mission of my political life has been to work with others to sustain and create community: a place where people would want to raise a family, work, have friends, a good job, and a great quality of life. Protecting core urban centers and making careful choices about suburban development was and is a fundamental part of that mission.”

That year, city officials were making zoning decisions regarding big-box development along Camden Street, a burgeoning commercial strip north of Rockland.

Lizzie became part of a group that halted plans for a Super Walmart in its tracks. “As a result of that struggle, I was determined to be on the other side of the council podium. I wanted to be a part of the solution, not constantly in opposition. I’m good at getting large groups working together, and I wanted to be in a position to get them together in order to take proactive action,” she remembers.

When not immersed in council issues, Lizzie works with special needs students as an Educational Technician III in Special Education at Medomak Valley High School and spends time with her family. “Children’s issues and education are huge to me,” says this mother of two. “I grew up an underdog, and because of people who stepped into my life and made sure that I obtained an education, I have been able to accomplish the unexpected in my life. Educating and empowering our young people is the most important task we face.”

According to Lizzie, an important and immediate issue facing Rockland right now is the need to become a more efficient city, given the budgetary constraints of the times. To that end, she has a hands-on approach to her work. “Because of this job, I’m getting a virtual masters degree in civic planning.  I’ve learned about planning codes and how to work with others more effectively. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know city staff and learning from them. I’m learning to run a city really,” she muses.

Does this mean that she eventually wants to run a state?  Well, she is planning to run for the state legislature in 2012 and then….

“There’s this house called the Blaine House and there’s never been a woman governor in it.  There are about twenty sisters ahead of me so I don’t know if I’m going to make it.  There are many talented women in the state of Maine, a lot of competition,” Lizzie chuckles.

Maybe --- but it’s clear that Lizzie Dickerson is part of that pool of talent and someone to watch as people move in and out of this familiar piece of Maine real estate.