By a 503-128 vote margin, Wiscasset residents said “no” to changing the high school mascot in an Election Day survey Nov. 2. The results were revealed during a public meeting Nov. 23 at the Wiscasset Town Office.
Billed as a community survey by organizer Chris Teel of Dresden, the informal vote was meant to take the “temperature” of the town and provide data towards the ongoing dialogue over the continued use of the term and mascot image “Redskin.”
“I viewed this as a golden opportunity to gain access to many people that otherwise would not show up to a meeting or take the time to voice their opinion,” Teel said in a written statement to The Lincoln County News.
While comments were not solicited on the ballot style slips, many took the opportunity to weigh in on the issue. Comments from voters included “please let this alone” and “people who want to change it should be shot.”
More than a few cited the professional football team, the Washington Redskins, as an honorable precedent for the mascot.
One comment in favor of a change simply said, “the change is long overdue.”
The sealed ballot box, adorned with an image of a “Redskin” for reference, was opened by Teel and then handed over to Wiscasset Selectman Ed Polewarczyk who began the process of retrieving the votes. Wiscasset resident Bob Fairchild read each vote aloud while volunteers kept a running tally of the decisions.
Of the 665 votes collected, 34 were undecided, with the total equaling roughly 40 percent of 1665 Wiscasset votes that were cast Nov. 2. The survey was part of a larger attempt to gain information from as many different angles as possible, said Teel.
“The idea was to have the community add input to the discussion. This is just one part of the overall process,” he said.
During the initial meeting of the mascot committee Nov.15, members debated on the value of the survey, wondering if the results would add anything to the process.
Ultimately the committee decided to include the results as part of a concerted effort to examine the complex issue with fact based research.
Teel plans to bring the results of his survey to the next mascot committee meeting to be held Dec. 15 at the Wiscasset High School.
