LEWISTON — A Maine Republican attack on mayoral candidate Ben Chin’s faith has led the speaker of the Maine House to call for a legislator to resign. Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, called for Rep. Lawrence Lockman, R-Amherst, to resign over a Facebook post he made Monday labeling Chin an anti-Christian bigot. “This has no […]
campaign 2015
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston mayoral race: Ben Chin, Bob Macdonald to debate Nov. 19
LEWISTON — Mayor Bob Macdonald and challenger Ben Chin will face off Nov. 19 in City Hall for a debate leading up to their Dec. 8 runoff election. Heidi Sawyer, moderator of the “Lewiston Rocks the Vote” Facebook group, said the format will be an actual debate, giving the two candidates a chance to rebut each […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Bates student voters take issue with Lewiston candidate Soule
LEWISTON — Mayoral candidate Charles Soule said he was trying to make a point about local elections when he challenged a group of Bates College students at the polls Tuesday. “I explained the facts, about how would they feel if I went to their family’s home district and started voting in their election without changing […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
$1.7 million spent to raise public campaign financing
PORTLAND — Political committees spent a collective $1.7 million to campaign for expanding the state’s publicly financed election system, battling vocal but frugal opposition. A group working to defeat the measure raised just more than $44,000. The battle over proposed changes to Maine’s public campaign financing system was the most hotly contested of three state […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Androscoggin commissioners offer settlement after successful Charter vote
AUBURN — The Androscoggin County commissioners have proposed a settlement to the county municipalities one day after voters strongly supported an amendment to the county charter that commissioners say “reaffirmed” their authority over the budget process. “The voters have now spoken with overwhelming support for the solution the board of commissioners proposed,” wrote Beth Bell, […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills
Voters reject Land Management Ordinance
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]