PARIS — Voters in Paris rejected the town’s proposed Land Management Ordinance roughly 2 to 1 during Tuesday’s election. Residents voted 419-198 against the ordinance, according to Town Clerk Liz Knox. A total of 666 voters weighed in on the document, along with the statewide clean elections and bond questions. Forty-two votes were cast absentee […]
politics
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Mayor Jonathan LaBonte focuses on high school, Chinese investors
AUBURN — Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said Wednesday that he plans to focus his third term on two key elements he sees as integral to improving the city’s economy and quality of life. LaBonte, who handily won re-election over challenger Peter Letourneau Tuesday, said finding a solution for Auburn’s worn-out Edward Little High School and ushering to […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston voter turnout good, not great
LEWISTON — Voter turnout for Tuesday’s municipal election was good, but it didn’t set any records. City Clerk Kathy Montejo said ballots were cast by 8,393 voters, about 33.5 percent of the city’s 25,009 registered voters. That surpassed the most recent 2013 municipal election, which had a 28 percent voter turnout, she said. “But that […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston runoff vote set for Dec. 8 as financial rules reset
LEWISTON — Voting in a runoff election between Mayor Robert Macdonald and challenger Ben Chin should begin Friday, when absentee ballots become available at City Hall. City councilors on Wednesday voted to set the election on Dec. 8 and to set the single polling place at Longley Elementary School. City Clerk Kathy Montejo said absentee […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Both parties offer empty rhetoric on taxes
WASHINGTON — There is no tooth fairy. Republicans and Democrats take note. Taxes will surely continue to play a big role in the presidential campaign. The Republicans contend that cutting rates will do the trick; the pickup in economic growth will generate additional tax revenues. Democrats retort that raising taxes on the rich will provide […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Portland elects Ethan Strimling as mayor, rejects $15 minimum wage
PORTLAND — There’s going to be a new mayor. Portland residents have chosen Ethan Strimling as the mayor of Maine’s largest city. Strimling defeated the city’s first elected mayor, incumbent Michael Brennan, along with Green Independent party leader Tom MacMillan. Strimling won with 51 percent of the vote on Tuesday. Brennan and Strimling sparred about […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Faith Fontaine and Brent Bilodeau win Auburn School Committee seats
AUBURN — Incumbent Brent Bilodeau and Faith Fontaine won at-large seats on the School Committee in a four-way race Tuesday. Bilodeau and Fontaine beat John Carney and Lawrence Pelletier. Fontaine had 2,045 votes; Bilodeau had 1,406. The other committee seats were unopposed. Winning seats were Bonnie Hayes, Ward 2; Thomas Kendall, Ward 3; Tammy Neilson, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lisbon school budget fails for 4th time
LISBON — Four attempts. Four failures. By a vote of 900 to 1,085 on Tuesday, voters failed to pass a school budget for the fourth time since June 9. The struggle to reach agreement on the budget has divided members of the School Committee and Town Council, many of whom expressed hope last week that Tuesday […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Jonathan LaBonte picks up easy win in mayor’s race
AUBURN — Jonathan LaBonte easily claimed his third term as mayor at the polls Tuesday, defeating challenger Peter Letourneau. LaBonte picked up 2,605 votes to Letourneau’s 1,896, earning 58 percent of the vote. LaBonte could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Letourneau said Tuesday that he hurt his chances in two ways. “I think I […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Newly elected Auburn councilors are signs of change
AUBURN — City Council newcomer Grady Burns said he thinks residents’ desire for change helped sweep him into office. “People seem to understand that Auburn’s at a crossroads,” Burns said. “We are facing a shrinking tax base and we need help creating long-term solutions to turn back that trend.” But a distinctive campaign sign didn’t […]