Presque Isle voters shake up city council
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Voters in Presque Isle last Tuesday decided to make a few changes to the city council as one longtime councilor fell short in his bid for reelection.
Peter Hallowell and Micah Desmond won four-year terms to the council. Hallowell received 944 votes and Desmond 778 votes.
Hallowell had been serving a one-year term on the council after being appointed last year to fill the seat left empty by the resignation of Jennifer Trombley and Desmond is new to the council.
Incumbent Don Gardner tallied 689 votes, placing him fourth in the race behind Jacqueline Goodine with 720 votes. Robert Jackson and David Perry finished fifth and sixth, with 493 and 299 votes respectively.
There were also two one-year seats on the council before voters. Three individuals — Jessica Chase Smith, Sheldon Ellis and Richard Engels — sought those positions.
Engels was elected with 1,379 votes. Chase Smith gained the other seat with 1,322 votes. Ellis received 874 votes. Both Chase Smith and Engels will be first-time councilors.
In the uncontested races for two seats on the SAD 1 board of directors, Robert Cawley retains his representation of District 5, while Lori Kenneson won a seat representing District 9.
Nearly one third of the 6,736 eligible voters in Presque Isle cast a ballot.
Presque Isle voting in the statewide referendum questions followed the state pattern, with local voters turning down racinos for Biddeford and Washington County, a casino in Lewiston and voting in favor of same-day voter registration.
A constitutional amendement on redistricting was narrowly turned down by Star City voters, 1022-1079, but approved by Maine voters.
