LEWISTON — Councilors will opt for a shorter candidate petition time but a better voter turnout in the effort to replace City Councilor Doreen Christ.
Christ announced last week that should would move out of Lewiston’s Ward 4 sometime this month and give up her seat. She plans to leave Lewiston by the end of September or as soon as renovations to her new Freeport home are finished.
City Clerk Kathy Montejo said the City Charter requires an election to fill the seat, but councilors could pick a date, the Nov. 4 General Election, which offers potentially better voter turnout, or Dec. 9. The later date would give candidates more time to pass petitions.
Councilor Nate Libby said candidates deserved more time.
“My concern is the short time frame in which we’d be asking citizens to decide they would run for City Council and then move forward to collecting valid signatures,” Libby said. “I would like to see us follow more of a traditional process.”
But most of his council colleagues disagreed. Montejo said the Nov. 4 ballot would bring in about 1,500 to 2,000 Ward 4 voters, while the Dec. 9 special election would bring in between 500 and 1,000.
“It’s hard to argue with that number, just having the availability of so many voters,” Councilor Mark Cayer said. “I realize it’s not perfect for the candidates collecting signatures or for people to decide they even want to run. But my preference would be for Nov. 4.”
Councilors voted 5-2 in favor of Nov. 4. Councilors Libby and Kristen Cloutier preferred Dec. 9.
Montejo said nominating petitions would be available Friday. Candidates will have 15 days to collect 50 signatures to guarantee a spot on the ballot. Absentee ballots should be mailed out to people requesting them on Oct. 3.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story