School projects go down to defeat
School projects go down to defeat
Rancourt, Sullivan win seats on council
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
This past Tuesday, Scarborough voters soundly rejected two school bond referendums that would have cost the town $55 million, with 59 percent of voters turning down a proposal to build a new intermediate school and 56 percent voting against a proposal to improve the middle school. Scarborough residents also re-elected Carol Rancourt to the Town Council and selected Richard Sullivan in a tight race to fill an open three-year term on the council. In uncontested races, Ronald Ahlquist was handed a one-year term on the council and three new members of the Board of Education were chosen.
“I’m disappointed,” said Superintendent David Doyle of the defeat of the school proposals. “The message from the town is they’re not in the mood for spending this kind of money at this time.”
The defeat of the school proposals follows the downfall of other proposed building projects in recent years, including last year’s rejection of a new library and the voter’s defeat of a proposal to build a senior center. The school proposals, which were intended to resolve a range of problems with the current schools, came out of a process of planning by the school department, two building committees established by the Town Council and the architecture and design firm Harriman Associates. Doyle said he does not know the school department’s next step will be in finding a solution to the school facilities problems.
“At this point we need to let the dust settle and step back from big building projects,” he said. “We have lots of other things to work on.”
Richard Sullivan, a firefighter for the city of South Portland and owner of a landscaping business, will fill an open seat on the Town Council left by outgoing councilor Robert Patch. Sullivan has identified stabilizing taxes and encouraging business growth as his main priorities on the council. Sullivan received 3,524 votes with David Dedian close behind at 3,435. In total, 8,822 registered voters in Scarborough cast ballots.
Councilor Rancourt is finishing up her first term on the council and will now be heading back for another. She won the most votes of any council candidate – 4,096.
Filling the seat of outgoing councilor Steve Ross for a one-year term will be Ronald Ahlquist. A former member of the council, Ahlquist works for the Maine State Employees Association as a field representative. He is a fourth-generation resident of Scarborough.
There were no challengers to candidates for the Board of Education or the Sanitary District Board of Trustees. Jodie Lenardson and Jane Wiseman will be serving for the first time on the Board of Education and Annalee Rosenblatt has previously served on the Board of Education.
Nicola Rico and Benedetto Viola will both be returning to the Sanitary District Board of Trustees.
Rancourt, Sullivan win seats on council
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
This past Tuesday, Scarborough voters soundly rejected two school bond referendums that would have cost the town $55 million, with 59 percent of voters turning down a proposal to build a new intermediate school and 56 percent voting against a proposal to improve the middle school. Scarborough residents also re-elected Carol Rancourt to the Town Council and selected Richard Sullivan in a tight race to fill an open three-year term on the council. In uncontested races, Ronald Ahlquist was handed a one-year term on the council and three new members of the Board of Education were chosen.
“I’m disappointed,” said Superintendent David Doyle of the defeat of the school proposals. “The message from the town is they’re not in the mood for spending this kind of money at this time.”
The defeat of the school proposals follows the downfall of other proposed building projects in recent years, including last year’s rejection of a new library and the voter’s defeat of a proposal to build a senior center. The school proposals, which were intended to resolve a range of problems with the current schools, came out of a process of planning by the school department, two building committees established by the Town Council and the architecture and design firm Harriman Associates. Doyle said he does not know the school department’s next step will be in finding a solution to the school facilities problems.
“At this point we need to let the dust settle and step back from big building projects,” he said. “We have lots of other things to work on.”
Richard Sullivan, a firefighter for the city of South Portland and owner of a landscaping business, will fill an open seat on the Town Council left by outgoing councilor Robert Patch. Sullivan has identified stabilizing taxes and encouraging business growth as his main priorities on the council. Sullivan received 3,524 votes with David Dedian close behind at 3,435. In total, 8,822 registered voters in Scarborough cast ballots.
Councilor Rancourt is finishing up her first term on the council and will now be heading back for another. She won the most votes of any council candidate – 4,096.
Filling the seat of outgoing councilor Steve Ross for a one-year term will be Ronald Ahlquist. A former member of the council, Ahlquist works for the Maine State Employees Association as a field representative. He is a fourth-generation resident of Scarborough.
There were no challengers to candidates for the Board of Education or the Sanitary District Board of Trustees. Jodie Lenardson and Jane Wiseman will be serving for the first time on the Board of Education and Annalee Rosenblatt has previously served on the Board of Education.
Nicola Rico and Benedetto Viola will both be returning to the Sanitary District Board of Trustees.
Comments