In Wiscasset’s most visible race, town voters chose Judith Colby, (723 votes), Ed Polewarczyk (527) and David Nichols (485) to fill three vacant slots on the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen, bringing an end to a lively competition. Mark Johnson (377) and Michael Maney (293) finished out of contention.
Colby, a budget committee member and, in the 1980s, a member of the Wiscasset School Board, finished nearly 200 votes ahead of her closest competition. “I was very surprised and pleased,” Colby said. “I’m excited to get to work for the taxpayers. It’s going to be a challenge.”
“I didn’t expect the turnout… I was delighted,” said Polewarczyk. “I’ll do my best to try to represent the people of Wiscasset.” Nichols could not be reached for comment.
Incumbent Greg Griffin will continue as Road Commissioner, handily defeating challenger David Sutter, 688-309. Griffin called the outcome “good news.”
“I’m glad to see that we’ll be doing it again this year,” Griffin said.
In unopposed races, Voters elected Constance Schumann (777) and Eugene Stover (848) to serve on the Budget Committee and the RSU #12 Board of Directors, respectively. Robert MacDonald (791) and Dean Shea (730) will return as Water District Trustees.
Five other Budget Committee seats were open: three for three-year terms, one two-year term, and one one-year term. Write-in winners were Phil DiVece (three-year term and one-year term), Steve Mehrl (three-year term) and Prior Morrell (three-year term and two-year term). Mehrl, the recent chairman of the budget committee, and Morrell declined their positions. DiVece accepted a three-year term.
“I find it really interesting,” DiVece said. “I enjoy the public service… It’s a nice group of people that are on the budget committee.”
DiVece, who recently completed a term as a selectman and also serves Wiscasset as a Water District Trustee, already has substantial knowledge of the budget process. This year, he said, “Things look better on the revenue side… better than we originally thought.”
The Board of Selectmen will appoint the four remaining seats. DiVece hopes one will go to Mehrl, who declined a three-year term but expressed interest in a one-year term. Mehrl, DiVece said, is “very knowledgeable.”
“Steve has a real good understanding of the school budget. Better than anyone,” DiVece said.
As for the other three slots, DiVece said, “I’m hoping that we can encourage some other people to come forward.”
“It can be a lot of fun,” DiVece said. “We need to get more people involved, especially younger people… It’s their community too.” Those that serve, DiVece said, will “find it very rewarding.”
