Houlton has been through a difficult stretch, but Town Councilor Fred Grant, who is seeking election to a two-year term in November, is optimistic about its future.
“We have dedicated staff and engaged residents, and with steady leadership and a solid plan, I believe our best years are ahead of us,” Grant said.
Grant, 57, president of Northern Maine Media Inc. and owner of Market Pizza in Houlton and the historic 1919 Temple Theater on Market Square, was appointed to the Town Council last November to fill Alexis Brown’s seat, left vacant after she declined to accept a Nov. 6 election win.
Grant’s appointment came at a time of turmoil and uncertainty for this town of 6,000, following former Town Manager Cameron Clark’s Sept. 26, 2025, arrest and incarceration as well as the resignations of five town councilors.
“The disruption in leadership over the last year left gaps in services, and those gaps need to be found and fixed,” Grant said. “We’ve been filling the managerial vacancies, and I’ve been impressed with how well our staff has picked up the pieces in the meantime.”
Declared write-in candidate Daniel Dobbs is also vying for the one open two-year seat.
Prior to his appointment, Grant told the council that he hoped to have an opportunity to help the town through difficult issues ahead.
The entrepreneur, who is also a Service Corps of Retired Executives volunteer, is running for the council seat because he believes he can be of service to the town, having previously served on the council and the school board.
“I think that experience can help the town navigate both the current challenges and the ones ahead,” he said. “As the owner of several businesses, I’ve dealt with the same issues every organization faces: budgets, staffing and long-term strategy.”
His top priorities include hiring and keeping excellent employees, supporting them so they can serve the community well, and forging a path to long-term success for the town.
The current seven-member Town Council includes four councilors appointed late last year, and their first challenge has been identifying everything that needs attention, Grant said.
They have focused on building stability for the community, working through a difficult budget process and developing a plan to move the town beyond recovery and toward improvement and growth, he said.
“We also have real infrastructure needs: roads, buildings and equipment. We’ve spent too many years putting off these investments, and we can’t delay them any longer,” Grant said. “We need a clear plan to get that work done and a responsible way to pay for it.”
Grant holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Hartford and a masters in business administration from Adelphi University. He lives in Houlton with his wife, Renee. They have three children, Connor, a U.S. Air Force captain; Ben, who works with his dad at WHOU; and Ellie, a music major at the University of Maine.
Grant said he believes the council’s job is to set direction and priorities, adopt a responsible budget, and give the town manager and staff the support they need to do their jobs well.
“As a councilor, my role is to ask good questions, listen to residents, and help make decisions that keep the town on stable footing while planning for the long term,” he said.
