BRUNSWICK — Town Councilor Margo Knight retained her District 6 seat on Tuesday.

Knight defeated challenger Scott Taylor, 449-303, to earn a second term. She was originally appointed in 2007 to fill a vacancy.

There were two uncontested, incumbent council candidates: Councilor David Watson in District 1 and Councilor Benjamin Tucker in District 2.

District 6 includes Maine Street from Fort Andross to Maine Street Station to the north end of McKeen Street and portions of Federal and Water streets as well as parts of Bowdoin College.

All voting was consolidated this year at Brunswick Junior High School, rather than at separate district polling places.

Around 10 a.m., Town Clerk Fran Smith said said voters had been “steady, but people seem to be moving though” smoothly. She said there were 3,800 absentee ballots received, double the amount of the last comparable election four years ago, something she called a “dramatic increase.”

There was no school at the junior high because of the elections. Smith said the School Board voted to close school for the day to increase the amount of available parking and to avoid safety problems for children attending the school.

Taylor said he spoke with people who decided to vote absentee rather than travel to the school  on Election Day, but said it seemed the location saw a steady stream of voters.

He said his loss “may be a sign to work for the town at a different angle.”

Voter Jack Wallace said voting at the school was different than usual, but “I think it’s OK.”

Tricia Welsch said she “always votes.” She said she heard concerns from people about not being able to vote during lunch breaks because of the increased numbers of voters or travel distance to the polling location. 

Heather Gottlieb said she had not voted at the junior high school before, but “so far, so good,” as she stood in line to have her name checked off the voter list.

Stephanie Grinnell can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 123 or sgrinnell@theforecaster.net

 

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Brunswick residents voted at the junior high school consolidated polling place on Election Day. At mid-morning Tuesday, everything seemed to be moving smoothly, Town Clerk Fran Smith said.

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