We are actually excited to see how the votes come in June 12. Next week three towns convene their annual town meetings and we have enough intriguing primary contests on the ballot to make your average political junky’s mouth water.
Over in Waldoboro, voters are going to redraw the board of selectmen, electing three of the board’s five members, and consider a solid waste ordinance.
In Damariscotta, voters will consider amending their land use ordinance, which could give the green light to some commercial development in the near future.
In Wiscasset, voters will finally get a chance to decide how seriously they want to pursue withdrawal from RSU 12. In their annual referendum town meeting, an affirmative vote on Article 4 authorized the town to set up a committee for the purpose of formally exploring and negotiating withdrawal terms from the RSU, and commits the taxpayers to appropriating $55,000 for the cause, every penny of which, it must be said, may not be needed in the end.
It should be stressed, once again, that June 12 is the first of two votes Wiscasset voters will take on the subject.
The June 12 vote merely sets the official wheels in motion. There remains a great deal of fact-finding to be done, and legal negotiations to be pursued leading up to a second, yes or no vote, that will formally decide the issue for the immediate future.
The only things at stake are millions of Wiscasset’s education dollars, the future of the town’s educational oversight and potentially, the continued existence of RSU 12 itself.
Beyond that, in Wiscasset there are several land use amendments to be considered and the usual budget items. Several towns also have school budget validation votes on the ballot.
Then we have the political primaries, which set up the fall elections. As is our practice, we have focused our resources on contested elections in this issue.
In those primaries, specifically the Senate District 20 contest, features Rep. Les Fossel against Edgecomb Selectman Stuart Smith, the District 50 primary features former Waldoboro Selectman Ellen Winchenbach versus former Nobleboro Selectman Henry Simmons; and, the District 51 primary pits Damariscotta businessman Buzz Pinkham versus Edgecomb Selectman Jessica Chubbuck.
We think Republican voters collectively are presented with a fine slate of candidates.
Not to be outdone, Lincoln County Democrats are also fielding a strong slate of candidates.
Assuming unopposed Democrats Sen. Chris Johnson, Joel Pitcher and Mick Devin win their respective primary contests, it should set up some very intriguing races for the State House in the fall and that is not even touching on the uncontested primaries at this point.
In short there is a lot up in the air next week, both for the state and for several local towns.
We urge everyone to turn out next Tuesday and do their civic duty and exercise their Constitutional right to vote in one fell swoop. Every vote counts. Every election is important.
As Ron Paul supporters showed during the recent, contentious Republican convention, democracy is not a spectator sport. See you at the polls.
