LEWISTON — Advocates hoping to make it legal to possess of up to 1 ounce of marijuana for recreational use have launched an effort to collect enough voter signatures to put the issue on a citywide ballot in November. “The petition process will spark a public dialogue about marijuana and the need for more sensible […]
politics
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
State Rep. Lance Harvell withdraws from race
FARMINGTON — State Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, has withdrawn his bid for re-election this fall. Harvell, who has served in the Legislature since 2009, was scheduled to face Democratic challenger Edward David for the House District 113 seat. Harvell does not have a Republican opponent in Tuesday’s primary. In a statement Monday, Harvell said, “The […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Low voter turnout expected for Tuesday’s primary
AUGUSTA (AP) — Voter turnout is expected to be light in Maine’s primary election this week. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said that few competitive primary races will likely contribute to fairly low voter turnout on Tuesday. He says he’s estimating about 13 to 15 percent of eligible voters will make it to the polls. […]
Posted inRiver Valley, The Franklin Journal
Five vying for two seats on Mexico board
MEXICO — Five residents are vying for two seats on the Board of Selectmen in Tuesday’s elections. Voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 10, at the Calvin B. Lyons Hall in the Town Office. Along with the state primary ballot will be one for the 2014-15 town budget. Incumbent Peter […]
Posted inMaine
Primary candidates in congressional race span political spectrum
LEWISTON — The outcome of Tuesday’s primary to pick the contenders to replace U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud in Congress will be a bellwether for both political parties in the summer and fall political campaigns. Democratic and Republican primary voters in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes the vast majority of the state from Androscoggin County […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bellows plans to campaign while walking across Maine
AUGUSTA — The Democrat aiming to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November said Friday that she’s planning a 350-mile trek across Maine where she hopes to listen to voters’ concerns and learn about thriving local businesses. Shenna Bellows’ three-and-a-half-week journey by foot from Houlton to Kittery will begin next month. On the trip, which […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Lewiston’s pot legalization effort set to gather signatures
LEWISTON — Organizers hoping to make recreational marijuana legal in Maine’s second-largest city will launch their citywide signature-gathering campaign Monday, the state political director for the Marijuana Policy Project said Friday. David Boyer said his group will launch its petition effort with a news conference in Lewiston where it intends to collect signatures from voters […]
Posted inMaine
LePage, utilities commissioner at odds over ethics in Nestle case
AUGUSTA — Three people in the state have the power to decide how much Mainers pay every month for water, natural gas, telephone and electricity. They’re the members of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, and they preside over decorous, court-like proceedings in which they set rates and regulate about 430 telephone, electric, gas and water […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Michaud proposes inspector general to oversee DHHS
AUGUSTA — Democratic candidate for governor Mike Michaud said Thursday that if elected, he will create a state-level Office of Inspector General to fight “waste, fraud and abuse” in the Department of Health and Human Services. Michaud’s announcement appeared to be in reaction to a message that Republican Gov. Paul LePage has been focused on […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage joins governors in asking for VA reforms
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is one of six Republican governors asking President Barack Obama to initiate reforms in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The governors sent a letter to Obama this week after news of an attempt to cover up delays by veterans seeking getting health care. In the letter, the governors said they’re […]