SAD 51

Two school board members face challengers to SAD 51 seats

Two school board members in School Administrative District 51 faced challengers in Tuesday’s elections. Results were unavailable at press time.

In Cumberland, Karen Campbell was challenged in her bid for a second three-year term on the board by former Town Councilor Jeff Porter.

In North Yarmouth, Todd Nicholson was challenged in his bid for a second term on the board by Jim Moulton, a former selectman and school board member.

Voters in both towns also considered a proposed $30.4 million school budget for 2012-13.

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Campbell, 50, is a married stay-at-home mom and a former human resources administrator. Porter, 46, is director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Portland.

Moulton, 63, operates Jim’s Auto Repair on Mill Road. Nicholson, 46, is director of advancement at the Maine Audubon Society and former director of merchandising at L.L.Bean.

YARMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Two incumbents among four candidates for three open seats

Four candidates ran for three open seats on the Yarmouth School Committee on Tuesday.

Two incumbents, David Ray and Craig Wolff, faced challengers Tim Wheaton, a former committee member, and Susan Garrett, a political newcomer.

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Election results were unavailable at press time.

Garrett, 51, is an actor, teacher and director. Ray, 59, is an attorney at Bernstein Shur in Portland, where he specializes in construction contract law and dispute resolution.

Wheaton, 50, is national accounts marketing director at Unum. Wolff, 42, is a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland.

Town voters also considered a proposed $20.2 million school budget for 2012-13.

FALMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL

Four candidates in race for two open seats on town council

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Four candidates ran for two open seats on the Falmouth Town Council on Tuesday.

Election results were unavailable at press time.

Russell Anderson, 60, a semi-retired business consultant, and Sean Mahoney, 48, a lawyer with the Conservation Law Fund in Portland, are political newcomers.

Bryan Dench, 63, a law partner at Skelton, Taintor & Abbott in Auburn, and Karen Farber, 55, a non-attorney advocate at the Disability Rights Center in Augusta, have experience in town politics.

Before moving to Falmouth, Dench served in various appointed and elective positions in Lewiston, Auburn and Poland. Farber served two terms on the Falmouth School Board, ending in June 2011.

Voters also considered a proposed $29 million school budget for 2012-13.

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REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT 5

$24.9 million budget up for vote is an increase of 4.14 percent

Residents in Freeport, Durham and Pownal voted Tuesday on a proposed $24.9 million budget for Regional School Unit 5.

Results were unavailable at press time.

The school district’s board of directors requested a 2012-13 budget that’s $989,806 or 4.14 percent more than current spending.

REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT 23

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Fate of budget rejected in Saco, OK’d in Old Orchard, hinges on Dayton

Voters in Saco soundly rejected the $43.6 million budget proposed for Regional School Unit 23 on Tuesday as residents began collecting signatures to seek withdrawal from the school district.

However, voters in Old Orchard Beach supported the budget, 879-220. Results from Dayton were not available late Tuesday night.

In Saco, 1,833 votes were cast against the budget, while 878 voters supported the proposal.

To pass, the budget must receive a majority vote across the three communities.

The budget, approved by the school board and residents at a regional budget meeting, would eliminate 12 positions in an attempt to hold down costs while making up for reductions in revenue.

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Despite an overall decrease, the budget proposal was opposed by many in Saco because it would require a tax increase in the city. The proposed budget would add $1.70 to the city’s property tax rate.

If the budget fails, school officials will begin the budget process again.

Concern over the budget total and a possible backlash from voters prompted the Saco City Council to set aside $30,000 in case residents want to explore withdrawing from Regional School Unit 23.

RAYMOND

Noise ordinance would expand barking law to include all animals

Raymond voters were asked Tuesday to settle a neighborhood dispute about noisy roosters.

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Residents voted on whether to replace the town’s barking-dog ordinance with a new law that applies to all animals.

Results of the referendum weren’t available at press time Tuesday night.

The new law would enable the town to levy fines on Julie Sutherland, if her 16 rescued roosters make too much noise.

Wayne Gelston, who lives across Ledge Hill Road from Sutherland, has said his quality of life depends on the law.

GORHAM

All-day kindergarten opposition could affect vote on school budget

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Gorham residents voted Tuesday on whether to approve the school district’s $32.2 million budget.

Results were not available at press time Tuesday night.

A group of Gorham parents were encouraging residents to reject the 2012-2013 budget because it didn’t include funding for all-day kindergarten.

Gorham is one of five districts in Cumberland and York counties that does not offer all-day kindergarten.

The group and the school district estimates that the program would cost between $380,000 and $400,000.

— From staff reports

 


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