PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — On Tuesday, hundreds in Presque Isle and surrounding communities came out to vote in both the presidential primaries and the Maine Question 1 vaccine exemption referendum.
Many declined to disclose who they voted for, citing the potential for controversy within these small communities. But others were passionate and ready to say as much as they could about issues they saw as paramount.
Lisa Leduc, 54, a college professor of Presque Isle, voted for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Leduc likes Warren’s multiple plans to fix many of the issues facing American society, and thinks she has a better chance of beating President Trump in November than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders or former Vice President Joe Biden.
Leduc was a strong no on the vaccine referendum question.
“I believe kids need to be vaccinated,” Leduc said. “There are still opportunities for medical exceptions. But there should be no religious or cultural exemptions.”
John Weatherbee, 36, a cannabis dispensary worker who resides in Presque Isle, voted for Sanders. While he agrees with Sanders on many issues, including education and social security, health care was an important part of his vote because of his own personal story.
Weatherbee comes from Germany, a country that has universal health care. Though it was hard watching his mother suffer from cancer in the last years of her life, because of Germany’s health care system, the family did not need to worry about medical bills.
“They never asked for a dime from us,” Weatherbee said. “I think that’s something that’s worth looking into.”
Weatherbee was not the only Sanders supporter who saw health care as an integral reason for their vote. Lynn Craig, 57, an editor for Burrelle’s Information Services in Presque Isle, said her own personal health issues affected her support of Sanders.
“I’m not feeling very well, and I’d like to retire someday with a good medical system,” Craig said.
Craig said she did a lot of reflecting on the Question 1 issue, but voted no after considering the number of family members she had who had contracted dangerous diseases. She also said the recent coronavirus outbreak had affected her thinking on the issue.
Diane Sherwood of Fort Fairfield said she had been “waffling” between former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. But after Buttigieg ended his presidential campaign on Sunday night, Sherwood knew she would vote for Biden.
“For me, the main thing is to beat the existing president and get him out of office,” Sherwood said. “I think Joe is the one who can do it.”
But the presidential nomination wasn’t the only thing on the ballot. Question 1, which would decide the fate of a Maine law eliminating vaccination exemptions for children, was a significant motivator to come out and vote for those in both parties.
This was especially true for Republicans, who could only choose President Trump on their ballot. He ran unopposed in Maine.
Roberta Watson of Fort Fairfield was one of many registered Republicans who voted for President Trump in the Republican primary. Watson also voted yes on Question 1.
“I think you ought to be able to decide whether you want the vaccination or not,” Watson said. “I feel like if I want to say no, I ought to be able to say no.”
But Watson seemed to be in the minority of voters, with most saying voting to maintain the vaccination law was the obvious choice for any community that wants to keep healthy. Many were incredulous that people were opposing the new law, including Pat Burger of Mars Hill.
As an unenrolled voter, Burger did not have the opportunity to vote for a presidential candidate in either major party. But she felt strongly about the Question 1 issue, on which she voted no.
“They’re stupid if they don’t get vaccinated,” Burger said, referring to those who voted yes on the issue.
Michael Gosselin of Mars Hill showed that feelings on Question 1 transcend party lines: while he believes parents should be able to decide if their children are vaccinated and thus voted yes on Question 1, he is a strong supporter of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, especially admiring Sanders’ Medicare-for-All plan.
“I think that the country needs a change,” Gosselin said. “And he’s a big change.”
For Jose Gonzalez, 25, of Presque Isle voting is an important part of giving his generation a voice. While he admires some of the policies of the Democratic candidates, he prefers those of President Trump.
“Make America great again,” Gonzalez said. “I just believe in what he’s doing.”
Gonzalez voted no on Question 1 because he believes that a large unvaccinated population risks spreading disease, and even death, to the broader public.
