By David Harry
Staff Writer

The voice rang clearly across the gym at Scarborough High School Tuesday night.
“Mommy, I voted,” called 3-year-old Alexander Meader to his mother, Sarah Victor.
Alexander held up a sample ballot that was not counted, but according to Town Clerk Yolande “Tody” Justice, more than 61 percent of registered voters submitted ballots that did count.
The election results from Tuesday showed voters following some statewide trends by rejecting state referendum questions on reducing excise taxes and limiting government spending, but rejecting a successful effort to veto a same-sex marriage law.
Voters also turned out incumbent Town Councilor Richard J. Sullivan Jr. and Board of Education member Annalee Z. Rosenblatt.
Political newcomer Jessica L. Holbrook joined incumbent Carol S. Rancourt as winners in the four-person race for two, three-year council terms. Local businessman Michael A. Hoglund Jr. finished fourth in the race.
Robert C. Mitchell returns to the Board of Education after a three-year hiatus, joining incumbents Jane M. Wiseman and Jacquelyn A. Perry from a five-candidate field that also included James P. Shields and Rosenblatt.
“It is a very humbling experience,” Holbrook said of her win. “I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the people who voted and supported me.”
The local bond question setting aside $1 million to buy land parcels for conservation and recreation passed 5,844 to 2,800. In the uncontested race for trustees of the Scarborough Sanitary District, incumbents Nicola F. Rico and Benedetto Viola won three-year terms.
While Question 1 repealing the law allowing same sex marriage was approved, locally 4,907 Scarborough residents voted no, compared to 4,162 in favor.
It was the only instance in which voters bucked statewide results as questions to reduce vehicle excise taxes, limit government spending, scrap the school district consolidation law and amend the state constitution to allow more time to verify petition signatures were rejected.
Voters in town and across the state approved $71 million in state highway bonds and establishing a distribution system for marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes.
Justice said the pilot program for early voting, allowing ballots to be cast beginning Oct. 26, was a success, as 1,988 voters took part. There were also 2,751 absentee ballots requested and 2,529 returned in time to be counted.
As voters left Scarborough High School, they called voting a duty.
“I’m not political, but I do like to vote,” said Amy Taylor, who was joined by her son Jackson and daughter Natalie.
Ron Guibord said he has been voting in each town election for nine years and was not surprised by the high turnout.
“A contentious issue stirs people up,” he said, referring to Question 1.
Some voters preferred not to comment on how they voted, but Jennifer Jortberg said it was important for her to stand up for equal rights and vote against repealing the same sex marriage law passed by the Legislature last spring.
Her daughter, 11-year-old Molly LeCompte, came along with a strong set of opinions.
“It seems most people should marry who they love,” she said. Molly added she was also against Question 4, called the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, because she worried about potential cuts to education budgets.
After hearing her son boast about voting, Sarah Victor held her daughter Rachael, 2, and talked about the importance of voting.
She said she calls friends and neighbors about going to the polls, offering rides and information.
“I almost choked,” she said about one person telling her they didn’t vote.
Calling herself “adamant” on rejecting Question 1, Victor said she was troubled to see swastikas drawn on signs supporting the question and had tired of “emotionally manipulative tactics” that she said are part of campaigning.
“It is less important that we agree as it is we are able to hold a civil discourse,” she said.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219