Scarborough sees 35 percent voter turnout on Election Day (Printed Nov. 9, 2007)
By James V. Horrigan
Staff Writer
Despite a day of steady, occasionally torrential rain 35 percent of Scarborough voters turned out at the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes in the annual municipal election.
“The state goal was 30 percent; we always like it when we beat them,” said Town Clerk Yolande (Tody) Justice, noting that in recent years the turnout for off-year elections has been increasing steadily. Part of the reason, she thinks, is attributable to the fact that more and more voters are choosing to cast absentee ballots. Justice said that of the 1,531 absentee ballots issued, all but 75 were returned.
“We try to encourage absentee voting. It increases the turnout. Too many people don’t know that you no longer need a reason in Maine for requesting an absentee ballot,” she said.
Although seven candidates were on the ballot for a total of three seats on the town council and five candidates battled for three seats on the school board, it was the presence of nine referendum questions, five statewide, three countywide and one local, that drew the most voters.
The question regarding the proposed community park on Black Point Road was defeated by a margin greater than 2-1. Judy Roy, who topped the ticket in her bid for a fourth term on the town council, wasn’t surprised by the 2,997 voters who opposed the project, which was supported by just 1,354 votes.
“I guess in the long run everyone is feeling a bit anxious, with gas prices and oil prices and what’s going on in the stock market. People are saying we got to hold the line; I think that’s the message they’re giving us,” Roy said.
First-time candidate Brian Dell’Olio, who received the greatest number of votes for a three-year term on the school board, agreed. The 25-year-old, fifth generation Scarborough resident said he thought that the Black Point Park question, which he personally opposed, helped fuel the turnout.
“I think a community center should be higher on the list of priorities,” he said.
John D. Cole, who won the second three-year term on the school board agreed with Dell’Olio, his new colleague and former opponent.
“I did not favor it and I’m glad it went down. I think we have more important priorities,” Cole said.
But he took care not to alienate the project’s supporters.
“I think it’s good that folks are trying to do good things for the town, but it’s not the time to do it.”
As far as his own race for the School Board was concerned, Cole, in his first bid for elective office, admitted that he wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
“I’ve never done this before, so it was kind of new territory,” he said.
Cole had praise for his fellow candidates and lauded his opponents for the School Board for their presence at the polls at Scarborough High School.
“We were all there at about quarter-to-seven and we didn’t leave until after nine. And most of us didn’t sit down all day,” Cole said.
Dell’Olio laughed about the inability to gauge his performance as the day unfolded.
“As a candidate, you’re kind of in a bubble. Nobody’s going to come up to you, shake your hand and say ‘I’m never going to vote for you.’”
Ron Ahlquist, seeking to fill the remaining year of Shawn Babine’s unexpired term on the town council, following Babine’s resignation easily fended off a write-in campaign by Art Dillon, winning 3510-212.
Jacquelyn Perry defeated Dianne Messer 2,196-1,832 to fill a two-year term on the town’s Board of Education.
Concerning the five statewide referendum questions, Scarborough voters came down on the same side as a majority of Maine voters in defeating Question 1, to allow the construction of a so-called Racino in Washington County 2,153-2,467 in a question that could potentially have had local implications down the road, and Question 5, to extend term limits for state Legislators from four to six terms 1,298-3,258.
A majority of Scarborough voters approved of the three questions relating to the issuance of bonds for research and economic development (2,397-2,186); improvements and additions on Maine public college campuses (2,487-2,121); and to replenish land for Maine’s Future program to set aside open space for public use (2,930-1,696), mirroring statewide returns.
Scarborough voters resoundingly defeated a measure to increase the number of Cumberland County commissioners by a margin of 855-1,986 and split on two county bond questions by approving of an upgrade of public safety communication system (3,075-1,368) and opposing an expansion of medical facilities for county jail inmates (1,751-2,318).
Staff Writer
Despite a day of steady, occasionally torrential rain 35 percent of Scarborough voters turned out at the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes in the annual municipal election.
“The state goal was 30 percent; we always like it when we beat them,” said Town Clerk Yolande (Tody) Justice, noting that in recent years the turnout for off-year elections has been increasing steadily. Part of the reason, she thinks, is attributable to the fact that more and more voters are choosing to cast absentee ballots. Justice said that of the 1,531 absentee ballots issued, all but 75 were returned.
“We try to encourage absentee voting. It increases the turnout. Too many people don’t know that you no longer need a reason in Maine for requesting an absentee ballot,” she said.
Although seven candidates were on the ballot for a total of three seats on the town council and five candidates battled for three seats on the school board, it was the presence of nine referendum questions, five statewide, three countywide and one local, that drew the most voters.
The question regarding the proposed community park on Black Point Road was defeated by a margin greater than 2-1. Judy Roy, who topped the ticket in her bid for a fourth term on the town council, wasn’t surprised by the 2,997 voters who opposed the project, which was supported by just 1,354 votes.
“I guess in the long run everyone is feeling a bit anxious, with gas prices and oil prices and what’s going on in the stock market. People are saying we got to hold the line; I think that’s the message they’re giving us,” Roy said.
First-time candidate Brian Dell’Olio, who received the greatest number of votes for a three-year term on the school board, agreed. The 25-year-old, fifth generation Scarborough resident said he thought that the Black Point Park question, which he personally opposed, helped fuel the turnout.
“I think a community center should be higher on the list of priorities,” he said.
John D. Cole, who won the second three-year term on the school board agreed with Dell’Olio, his new colleague and former opponent.
“I did not favor it and I’m glad it went down. I think we have more important priorities,” Cole said.
But he took care not to alienate the project’s supporters.
“I think it’s good that folks are trying to do good things for the town, but it’s not the time to do it.”
As far as his own race for the School Board was concerned, Cole, in his first bid for elective office, admitted that he wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
“I’ve never done this before, so it was kind of new territory,” he said.
Cole had praise for his fellow candidates and lauded his opponents for the School Board for their presence at the polls at Scarborough High School.
“We were all there at about quarter-to-seven and we didn’t leave until after nine. And most of us didn’t sit down all day,” Cole said.
Dell’Olio laughed about the inability to gauge his performance as the day unfolded.
“As a candidate, you’re kind of in a bubble. Nobody’s going to come up to you, shake your hand and say ‘I’m never going to vote for you.’”
Ron Ahlquist, seeking to fill the remaining year of Shawn Babine’s unexpired term on the town council, following Babine’s resignation easily fended off a write-in campaign by Art Dillon, winning 3510-212.
Jacquelyn Perry defeated Dianne Messer 2,196-1,832 to fill a two-year term on the town’s Board of Education.
Concerning the five statewide referendum questions, Scarborough voters came down on the same side as a majority of Maine voters in defeating Question 1, to allow the construction of a so-called Racino in Washington County 2,153-2,467 in a question that could potentially have had local implications down the road, and Question 5, to extend term limits for state Legislators from four to six terms 1,298-3,258.
A majority of Scarborough voters approved of the three questions relating to the issuance of bonds for research and economic development (2,397-2,186); improvements and additions on Maine public college campuses (2,487-2,121); and to replenish land for Maine’s Future program to set aside open space for public use (2,930-1,696), mirroring statewide returns.
Scarborough voters resoundingly defeated a measure to increase the number of Cumberland County commissioners by a margin of 855-1,986 and split on two county bond questions by approving of an upgrade of public safety communication system (3,075-1,368) and opposing an expansion of medical facilities for county jail inmates (1,751-2,318).
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