My name is Alana Schaeffer.

I’m a proud Kittery resident and a proven, dedicated leader with a strong track record of advocating for working-class families, securing state and federal resources to benefit those I represent, and ensuring that those who are often left out of the conversation have a seat at the table.

I am a journeyman pipefitter by trade, President of United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 788, Chairperson of the Seacoast Shipyard Association, and a three-time elected President of the Metal Trades Council at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard — representing approximately 3,600 skilled trade workers at the negotiating table and in Augusta and Washington, D.C.

I am both the youngest and the first woman to hold all three of these elected positions — roles I pursued because I knew what it felt like to not have anyone who truly understood my struggles speaking for me in the rooms where decisions are made.

I have a proven history of making fair, balanced, and thoughtful decisions on behalf of the workforce who elected me — even in times of high stress and shifting political climates.

In 2022, I was honored to be named Metal Trades Department International Person of the Year for my effective, transformational leadership during the challenges of a chaotic political climate and the unprecedented demands of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As both a Kittery resident and a representative of more than half of the Shipyard’s workforce, I understand the frustrations of parking, traffic, and the need for solutions that ease the burden on both sides of the bridge. I know how important it is to be good neighbors and to hold ourselves accountable- that’s the Maine way.

As a blue-collar worker who understands how it feels to need to work two and three jobs to make ends meet, I have a passion for finding common sense solutions to affordable housing

I have secured critical state and federal funding for those I represent, and I know how to navigate all levels of government to make sure our community has the resources it needs. I want to bring that knowledge and experience to serve the residents of Kittery.

I grew up in poverty and worked my way up to build a better life for my family. I understand the value of hard work, fiscal responsibility, public service — and, above all, the importance of making sure that all residents, from every walk of life, have someone fighting for them.

As a member of Kittery’s Town Council, I will fight for practical solutions, advocate for working families, and ensure that every resident has a voice in shaping our community’s future.