County reflects state’s mood in choosing LePage, Mitchell

In the June 8 primary election, Maine residents, by hefty margins, chose Paul LePage as the Republican candidate and Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell as the Democratic candidate in the November election for governor. Washington County voters reflected the state preference for the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates as well as the state mood by overturning the new state tax reform law and approving Question 3, the bond for investment in transportation projects. In the other referendum measures, Washington County voters were not favoring any of the three other bond issues, unlike the state totals, which approved all of the bond issues.

For the Republicans, LePage won the race with twice as many votes as his nearest competitor, receiving 37.5% of the statewide vote and 33.6% in Washington County, according to unofficial tallies. Leslie Otten garnered 17.4% statewide and a significantly higher percentage, 27.4%, in Washington County. Peter Mills received 14.6% statewide but only 8.4% in Washington County. Steve Abbott got 12.9% of the votes statewide and 7.6% in Washington County. William Beardsley's total was 9.4% in Maine but significantly higher, 20.6%, in Washington County. Bruce Poliquin received 4.95% statewide and 1.1% in Washington County. Matthew Jacobson attracted 3.24% statewide and 1.2% in Washington County.

On the Democratic side, Elizabeth Mitchell also won by a significant margin, receiving 35% statewide and 38.2% in Washington County. Steven Rowe garnered 22.9% statewide and 17.3% in Washington County. Rosa Scarcelli received 21.8% statewide and 25.1% in Washington County. Patrick McGowan received 20.1% of the votes statewide and 19.5% in Washington County.

In a special municipal referendum on the school AOS plan, Calais voters approved it by a margin of 364 to 171.

In the contested area races, the Republican candidate for state representative for District 31 will be Joyce Maker of Calais, who defeated C. Dean Ingham of Robbinston. Maker received 423 votes, or 63.7%, to 241, or 36.3%, for Ingham. Local towns voted as follows: Dean Ingham C Baileyville (39), Calais (95), Charlotte (18), Perry (32), Pleasant Point (1), Robbinston (43). Joyce Maker C Baileyville (64), Calais (192), Charlotte (38), Perry (63), Pleasant Point (4), Robbinston (43).

The Republican candidate for District Attorney for District 7 will be Matthew Foster of Ellsworth, who defeated Donald Brown of Bucksport. In Washington and Hancock counties, Foster garnered 63.38% of the vote, while Brown received 36.62%. Within just Washington County, Foster received 56.18% of the vote compared to Brown's 43.82%.

Local towns voted as follows: Donald Brown C Eastport (78), Baileyville (53), Calais (130), Charlotte (21), Dennysville (21), Edmunds Twp. (15), Lubec (58), Machias (89), Pembroke (52), Perry (53), Pleasant Point (1), Robbinston (43), Whiting/Trescott (28). Matthew Foster C Eastport ((60), Baileyville (43), Calais (100), Charlotte (22), Dennysville (10), Edmunds Twp. (15), Lubec (40), Machias (98), Pembroke (33, Perry (38), Pleasant Point (3), Robbinston (40), Whiting/Trescott (30).

Matthew Foster C Eastport (60), Baileyville (43), Calais (100), Charlotte (22), Dennysville (10), Edmunds Twp. (15), Lubec (40), Machias (98), Pembroke (33, Perry (38), Pleasant Point (3), Robbinston (40), Whiting/Trescott (30).

Gubernatorial results

Local voting in the gubernatorial race was as follows.

Steve Abbott (R) C Eastport (10), Baileyville (7), Calais (24), Charlotte (2), Dennysville (0), Edmunds Twp. (1), Lubec (9), Machias (27), Pembroke (4), Perry (2), Pleasant Point (0), Robbinston (9), Whiting/Trescott (4).

William Beardsley (R) C Eastport (22), Baileyville (15), Calais (48), Charlotte (9), Dennysville (3), Edmunds Twp. (8), Lubec 28(), Machias (48), Pembroke (14), Perry (6), Pleasant Point (1), Robbinston (16), Whiting/Trescott (25).

Matthew Jacobson (R) C Eastport (3), Baileyville (0), Calais (5), Charlotte (1), Dennysville (0), Edmunds Twp. (0), Lubec (0), Machias (1), Pembroke (0), Perry (0), Pleasant Point (0), Robbinston (0), Whiting/Trescott (0).

Paul LePage (R) C Eastport (44), Baileyville (36), Calais (91), Charlotte (22), Dennysville (18), Edmunds Twp.(11), Lubec (40), Machias (57), Pembroke (36), Perry (41), Pleasant Point (0), Robbinston (25), Whiting/Trescott (28).

Patrick McGowan (D) C Eastport (30), Baileyville (25), Calais (38), Charlotte (2), Dennysville (2), Edmunds Twp. (2), Lubec (29), Machias (31), Pembroke (17), Perry (10), Pleasant Point (0), Robbinston (9), Whiting/Trescott (9).

Peter Mills (R) C Eastport (11), Baileyville (15), Calais (26), Charlotte (4), Dennysville (3), Edmunds Twp. (3), Lubec (6), Machias (28), Pembroke (7), Perry (7), Pleasant Point (0), Robbinston (6), Whiting/Trescott (2).

Elizabeth Mitchell (D) C Eastport (49), Baileyville (35), Calais (41), Charlotte (8), Dennysville (5), Edmunds Twp. (5), Lubec (48), Machias (46), Pembroke (31), Perry (23), Pleasant Point (12), Robbinston (20), Whiting/Trescott (25).

Leslie Otten (R) C Eastport (75), Baileyville (38), Calais (106), Charlotte (16), Dennysville (10), Edmunds Twp. (10), Lubec (29), Machias (53), Pembroke (34), Perry (47), Pleasant Point (4), Robbinston (31), Whiting/Trescott (12).

Bruce Poliquin (R) C Eastport (2), Baileyville (1), Calais (3), Charlotte (0), Dennysville (1), Edmunds Twp. (0), Lubec (4), Machias (0), Pembroke (0), Perry (0), Pleasant Point (0), Robbinston (1), Whiting/Trescott (1).

John Richardson (D) C Eastport (3), Calais (1), Charlotte (0), Lubec (2), Pembroke (1), Perry (0).

Steven Rowe (D) C Eastport (25), Baileyville (5), Calais (19), Charlotte (8), Dennysville (7), Edmunds Twp. (5), Lubec (25), Machias (34), Pembroke (5), Perry (12), Pleasant Point (2), Robbinston (3), Whiting/Trescott (20).

Rosa Scarcelli (D) C Eastport (38), Baileyville (23), Calais (36), Charlotte (5), Dennysville (11), Edmunds Twp. (6), Lubec (32), Machias (33), Pembroke (23), Perry (12), Pleasant Point (4), Robbinston (12), Whiting/Trescott (13).

Referendum results

Question 1 asked if voters wanted to reject the new law that lowers Maine's income tax and replaces the revenue by making changes to the sales tax, and voters statewide approved overturning the law by a margin of 60.8% to 39.2%. Washington County voters approved overturning the law 61.2% to 38.8%. Local communities voted as follows: Eastport: Yes (208), No (173); Baileyville: Yes (176), No (117); Calais: Yes (303), No (246); Charlotte, Yes (57), No (34); Dennysville: Yes (46), No (27); Edmunds Twp.: Yes (47), No (13); Lubec: Yes (239), No (140); Machias: Yes (248), No (187); Pembroke: Yes (124), No (78); Perry: Yes (127), No (61); Pleasant Point: Yes (14), No (17); Robbinston: Yes (93), No (63); Whiting/Trescott: Yes (112), No (53).

Question 2, asking voters if they favored a $206,500,000 bond issue that will create jobs through investment in an offshore wind energy demonstration site and related manufacturing, was handily approved statewide 59.3% to 40.7%, but 50.1% of Washington County voters were against it. Local communities voted as follows: Eastport: Yes (235), No (142); Baileyville: Yes (168), No (126); Calais: Yes (299), No (246); Charlotte: Yes (33), No (58); Dennysville: Yes (33), No (40); Edmunds Twp.: Yes (26), No (34); Lubec: Yes (208), No (167); Machias: Yes (231), No (204) Pembroke: Yes (95), No (107); Perry: Yes (86), No (101); Pleasant Point: Yes (24), No (7); Robbinston: Yes (91), No (66); Whiting/Trescott: Yes (109), No (94).

Question 3, asking if voters favored a $47,800,000 bond issue to create jobs in Maine through improvements to highways, railroads and marine facilities, was approved overwhelmingly statewide 58.3% to 41.7%, but the margin was a little tighter in Washington County, with 51.2% for and 48.8% against it. The local communities voted as follows: Eastport: Yes (248), No (127); Baileyville: Yes (164), No (125); Calais : Yes (299), No (246); Charlotte: Yes (39), No (51); Dennysville: Yes (39), No (34); Edmunds Twp.: Yes (36), No (24): Lubec: Yes (219), No (157): Machias: Yes (227) No (204); Pembroke: Yes (125), No 76(); Perry: Yes (94), No (93); Pleasant Point: Yes (23), No (8); Robbinston: Yes (90), No (67); Whiting/Trescott: Yes (79), No (84).

Question 4, asking voters if they favor a $23,750,000 bond issue to provide capital investment and job creation economic development and job creations under the Communities for Maine's Future Program and in historic properties appeared to be narrowly approved statewide 50.88% to 49.12%, but in Washington County it was losing 43% to 57%. The local communities voted as follows: Eastport: Yes (194), No (181): Baileyville: Yes (127), No (163); Calais: Yes (249), No (290); Charlotte: Yes (28), No (62); Dennysville: Yes (28), No (44); Edmunds Twp.: Yes (28), No (32); Lubec: Yes (172), No (200); Machias: Yes (194), No (229); Pembroke: Yes (94), No (106): Perry: Yes (72), No (114); Pleasant Point: Yes (20), No (10); Robbinston: Yes (70), No (85); Whiting/Trescott: Yes (61), No (101).

Question 5, asking voters if they favored a $10,250,000 bond issue to improve water quality, support drinking water programs and the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and assist farmers in the development of environmentally sound water sources, was approved statewide 55.2% to 44.8%, but only 46.1% of Washington County voters favored it compared to 53.9% who were against it. The local communities voted as follows: Eastport: Yes (234), No (143); Baileyville: Yes (151), No (140); Calais: Yes (294), No (247); Charlotte: Yes (28), No (61); Dennysville: Yes (31), No (42); Edmunds Twp.: Yes (23), No (37); Lubec: Yes (198), No (178); Machias: Yes (215), No (212); Pembroke: Yes (79), No (121); Perry: Yes (70), No (116); Pleasant Point: Yes (23), No (7); Robbinston: Yes (79), No (77); Whiting/Trescott: Yes (64), No (99).