Staff Writer

Shawn Babine resigned from the Town Council Monday with a year left on his current term and will pursue educational and professional opportunities.

Babine quoted poet Anatole France in his resignation letter and wrote “the future is a convenient place for dreams.”

He later said he made the resignation effective immediately so the election for his replacement can be held during general elections in November.

Babine, 43, is pursuing a doctoral degree in law and public policy from Northeastern University in Boston. He said he plans to earn the doctorate by 2012.

Babine also has been named interim CEO for Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity Inc., an organization he joined as an undergraduate student at the University of Southern Maine about 25 years ago.

The combination of studies and overseeing the fraternity will keep Babine busy and on the road, he said. The fraternity headquarters are in Indianapolis and travel to prepare his doctoral dissertation will be global.

Babine said his first trip will be to Cuba, perhaps in the autumn, followed by trips to Turkey and countries in Eastern Europe. He said the job and studies are “dreams coming true,” but he does not expect to relocate his wife and daughter from Scarborough.

His dissertation is on the cultural and educational impacts of micro-lending in Third World countries, and the trip to Cuba will be a way to compare methods used in a socialist nation, he said.

His interest in finances locally is something that stood out during his tenure on the town council, said Council Chairman Carol Rancourt.

“He’s steady,” she said.

Other seats on the council could also be contested in November.

Town Clerk Tody Justice announced this week nomination papers are available beginning Aug. 4. The race for the remaining year of Babine’s term will be separated from the election for three-year seats currently held by Council Vice Chairman Judith Roy and former Chairman Michael Wood.

Rancourt said she hopes for a crowded ballot and noted the council has undergone fairly regular changes over the years.

“Scarborough always seems to field a full slate of candidates, but it is important to have choice,” she said.

Babine said his successor will face a difficult budget process, especially if revenue projections for this year are not met.

The biggest accomplishment by the council over the last year was the land swap and development of Snowberry Ocean View Park on Pine Point, he said.

“Just walk through and see how beautiful it is,” said Babine. “I knew we could do it right.”

He conceded the land swap with Lighthouse Inn owners Peter and Nicholas Truman to obtain the park was not always popular, but credited members of Pine Point Residents Association for contributions to the design process and making the park a success.

A Bath native who graduated from Morse High School, Babine said he first held elected office as a member of the Board of Education in 2000. After his election to the council, he resigned his seat once before because of professional demands while he was a vice president at TD Bank.

“I appreciate everything the citizens have done,” Babine said. “Service has always been part of my upbringing.”

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