YORK COUNTY SHERIFF

Ouellette, Gagne to face each other in November

York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette moved on to November’s general election in the race for sheriff by winning the Democratic primary on Tuesday. He will face Republican Chris Gagne of Sanford, who had no primary opponent.

Ouellette beat Paul Main of Alfred in the primary with 53 percent of the vote, 7,540 to 6,584.

Primaries can be unpredictable because relatively few voters turn out, which can spell trouble for incumbents, Ouellette said. He said he polled well in several of the small towns that are patrolled by county deputies, including his hometown of Cornish. Ouellette, who grew up in Sanford, won that town with 63 percent, 849 to 489.

Ouellette campaigned on his record with the department, where he has been sheriff for four years and was chief deputy for eight.

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Main, a former deputy and detective, campaigned on cutting waste in the department and building a cadre of reserve officers to save money on overtime.

Gagne also worked with the York County Sheriff’s Office. He retired as a sergeant, according to his website. He grew up in Biddeford-Saco and has served in the Coast Guard and the Marines.

RSU 23 BUDGET

School budget approved despite rejection pleas

Voters approved the Regional School Unit 23 budget Tuesday, despite being urged by officials in Saco and Dayton to reject it.

Unofficial figures indicate the $42.5 million budget for schools in Saco, Dayton and Old Orchard Beach passed with 65 percent of the vote — 3,946 to 2,145, according to school officials.

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The Saco City Council passed a resolution last week urging voters to reject the 2010-11 budget. They argued that Old Orchard Beach is spending more per student than Saco and Dayton, and that the district — which began operating in July — should be producing savings, not the modest spending increase called for in the budget.

Dayton’s selectmen also urged defeat, although they didn’t adopt a resolution. Dayton taxpayers will have to pay 5.66 percent more for education because of the slightly larger budget and a change in the cost-sharing formula.

Old Orchard Beach will see a decline of 2 percent in what it must provide the school district. Saco residents will pay 0.03 percent more.

Old Orchard Beach voters approved the budget 80 percent to 20 percent. Dayton voters rejected it, 74 percent 26 percent. In Saco, voters backed the budget 64 percent to 36 percent.

STANDISH

Lynn Olson, Michael Blanck win seats on town council

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Voters elected new town councilors and other officials Tuesday.

Lynn Olson won a race for Town Council Area 3 against Wayne Newbegin. The vote was 1,174 to 786.

Michael Blanck won the race for Town Council at-large, with 1,181 votes against Wiliam Orr, who received 698 votes.

All other offices were uncontested.

LEBANON

Voters approve questions for funds, new ambulance

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Voters approved three ballot questions Tuesday to support the Lebanon Rescue Department. Voters decided to allow the Rescue Department to buy a new ambulance with funding it already has, 918 to 361.

They also supported creating a rescue budget enterprise account so the department can buy supplies in the same year it receives insurance reimbursements. The vote was 848 to 409.

A rescue ordinance allowing the town to set Medicare rates for ambulance service passed, 838 to 411.

 


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