Attending the Wiscasset School Board meeting May 22, Chelsea Haggett, a 2007 graduate of Wiscasset High School, announced her write-in candidacy for an open seat on the school board.
Receiving some encouragement from community members, the 24-year-old said she is now convinced and ready to take on the role and serve the community where she went to school and still calls home today.
“I grew up here and love this town. I want future generations to have the opportunity to grow up, get a good education and be proud of Wiscasset just like I am,” Haggett said.
Haggett studied mass communications and business management after high school. She has worked in the operations department at The First in Damariscotta since 2011.
At her young age Haggett has already begun to give back to her community by volunteering. She is involved with a local young professionals fundraising group called Lincoln County Spark. She is active with the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as a member of its Think Outside of the Box campaign and on the membership committee. Haggett also coached youth softball at the Wiscasset Community Center.
Haggett said she recognizes the tough decisions facing the board in the future, including possible school consolidation.
“This has the potential to be an exciting time for Wiscasset schools, and Wiscasset as a community,” she said. “If you don’t get involved, you don’t have a say.”
According to Wiscasset Town Clerk Christine Wolfe, voters are required to write the candidate’s name on the write-in space provided on the ballot and fill in the box next to the name in order for the vote to get counted.
The correct spelling of a person’s name is not required to have the vote counted, Wolfe said.
“As long as the ballot clerks can determine the voter’s intent, the vote will be counted, even if the name is spelled incorrectly,” Wolfe said.
On June 10 Wiscasset voters will elect two new members to the school board. Wiscasset’s Michael Dunn is seeking election for the seat vacated by Sharon Nichols, who submitted her letter of resignation to the board on April 3, stating she could not support a three-school budget.
Two weeks later Colleen Bennett announced her decision not to seek re-election, citing additional family and work responsibilities. No candidate submitted nomination papers for the three-year term. Haggett is seeking write-in votes for the three-year term.
