PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Voters swarmed Presque Isle polls all day on Election Day, as officials and residents reported the highest turnout in many years.
A total of 4,179 residents cast ballots in national, state and local races. That’s 10 times the turnout at June primaries and nearly three-quarters of the city’s 5,906 registered voters.
By 11 a.m., more than 800 residents had voted, Election Warden Jayne Farrin said.
At around 4 p.m., voter lines were so long they filled the lobby and spilled out into the parking lot. Residents filled nearly every booth of the more than 30 available.
Voter registration tables were busy, but the number of new voters won’t be available until the state certifies them, City Clerk Kim Finnemore said.
National races
By far the closest race was that for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. Austin Theriault squeaked out a majority of 2,086 votes vs. Jared Golden’s 2,007.
In the heavily watched presidential race, Presque Isle leaned Republican, choosing Donald Trump with 2,238 votes over Kamala Harris with 1,850 votes.
And in the U.S. Senate contest, Angus King won the city vote with 2,218 vs. Demi Kouzounas with 1,453.
Local races
In local elections, three candidates earned seats on the Presque Isle City Council.
Mike Chasse defeated Darick Williams 2,562 to 1,179 for a three-year seat.
Incumbent Craig Green, with 2,104 votes, and newcomer Meg Hegemann with 1,709 votes, won the two available four-year council terms. Candidates Don Gardner and Belen Dougherty had 1,476 and 927 votes, respectively.
Nine SAD 1 school board seats were up for grabs. The only contested race was in Section 3, where Janet Willette defeated Terry Sandusky 24 to 11.
The following candidates ran unopposed and won their seats: Section 4, Michael Ouellette, with 175 votes; Section 8, Brandy Cronin, 516; Section 13, Desiree Albert, 201; and Section 15, John Johnston, 140.
No candidates ran for open seats in sections 7, 10, 14 and 17. The names of write-ins were not yet available from city officials.
SAD 1 residents handily passed a local bond issue, voting 2,896 to 788 to allow the Presque Isle Technology Center to accept a $708,696 grant to upgrade equipment for agricultural education and the school farm.
Maine and County races
For Maine Senate District 2, incumbent Maine Sen. Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, carried the Presque Isle vote with 2,750, beating out opponent Matthew Rush, D-Houlton, who had 1,294 votes.
In the contest for Maine House District 5, incumbent Joseph Underwood, R-Presque Isle, defeated Kevin Freeman, D-Presque Isle, 2,197 to 1,797.
Presque Isle voters favored Catherine Goff, R-Monticello, over April Duffy, D-Houlton, 2,165 to 1,725.
Residents also chose Peter Johnson as Aroostook County sheriff with 3,524 votes; Paul Underwood, county commissioner, 3,500; and Michael Carpenter, judge of probate, 3,819.
On statewide referendum questions, residents opposed changing the Maine state flag with a vote of 2,863 to 1,189, and also voted against the historic community buildings bond 2,155 to 1,872.
City voters approved Question 1, limiting campaign contributions to $5,000, 2,831 to 1,191; Question 2 on science and technology research, 2,112 to 1,902; and Question 4 on trail development and maintenance, 2,189 to 1,812.
Most voters declined to share thoughts about the election, but a couple of residents offered their views.
“I was worried about losing my reproductive rights as a woman and a part of the LGBTQ community. I don’t want to lose any more reproductive rights,” Natasha McNaughton, 23, of Presque Isle said.
That concern is what drew her to the polls and what prompted her vote for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, she said.
The stay-at-home parent said she supported Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, in the 2nd Congressional District race because she felt he would better protect MaineCare and Medicare than his opponent, Austin Theriault, R-Fort Kent.
After researching all the candidates before coming to vote, resident Matthew Davis supported Theriault because he found more “pros” than “cons” with him, he said.
Davis, a truck driver, shared his presidential pick.
“Unfortunately, Trump,” he said. “I didn’t care for either candidate, but I chose him for the protection of the country. I feel like our country needs to be more protected and become safer.”
Find full Maine election results on bangordailynews.com.
