Sheriff’s bid won by Smith; TABOR nixed

Voter turnout was high on November 7, Election Day, in Washington County, where the most talked about and publicized race involved the battle for the sheriff's seat and where the incumbent governor is not popular with local citizens. One local legislative race was very close, with incumbent Harold Ian Emery (R) of Cutler holding on to a 49-vote lead over challenger Harold Prescott (D) of Whiting. In the fiercely debated Taxpayer Bill of Rights referendum question, most Quoddy area communities, except Calais, Perry, Charlotte and Whiting, joined the statewide trend of voting down the measure.

The independent candidate for county sheriff, Donald Smith, won the contest over Democrat George Bunker Jr. and Republican Rodney Merritt. According to unofficial tallies, Smith received 5,711 votes, or 45.06%. Merritt garnered 4,194 votes, or 33.09%, and Bunker received 2,770 votes, or 21.85%. Smith was assisted in his win by overwhelming support in his hometown of Lubec, where he received 763 of the 863 votes cast.

In the race for governor, incumbent John Baldacci withstood a challenge from four other candidates, Republican Chandler Woodcock, independent Barbara Merrill, Green Independent candidate Pat LaMarche and independent Phillip NaPier. With 99% of the precincts reporting, Baldacci had 38.06% of the vote; Woodcock had received 30.18%; Merrill was a strong challenger with 21.52%; LaMarche picked up 9.59%; and NaPier received 0.64% of the total. Many Washington County residents feel they are not getting much attention in Augusta. Baileyville, Eastport and Lubec are the only towns in Quoddy area where Baldacci received more votes than one or more of the other candidates.

U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R) easily won re-election, including in Washington County, defeating challengers Jean Hay Bright (D) and independent William Slavick. The incumbent received 74.31% of the votes; Hay Bright had 20.5%, and Slavick earned 5.19% of the total.

U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud (D) also had no problem holding onto his seat for the Second District, defeating Laurence D'Amboise (R). He received 70.59% of the votes reported. D'Amboise had 29.41% of the total.

Incumbent U.S. Representative for District 1 Thomas Allen won the seat again with 60.48%. Challenger Darlene Curley (R) received 31.39%. Dexter Kamilewicz garnered 8.13%.

In his state senate race, incumbent Kevin Raye (R) of Perry defeated challengers Thomas Finlay (D) of East Machias, Dana Kadey of Township 21 and Nancy Oden of Jonesboro to retain the District 29 seat. According to unofficial tallies, Raye received 8,301 votes, or 58.68%. Finlay garnered 3,223 votes, or 22.78%. Kadey received 1,854 votes, or 13.11%, and Oden garnered 769 votes, or 5.44%.

Democrats gained 15 new seats in the Maine House of Representatives, giving them a 30-seat majority. House Majority Leader Glenn Cummings says the election results are an important message from Maine voters who are looking for progress rather than partisanship. In House districts that include parts of Washington County, Republicans held onto their three seats and picked up a fourth, as Democrats kept only one seat.

Incumbent legislator Howard McFadden (R) of Dennysville withstood a challenge from former legislator Albion Goodwin (D) of Pembroke for the District 30 seat. McFadden received 2,124 votes, or 60.2%, compared to Goodwin's 1,404 votes, or 39.8%.

Incumbent Anne Perry (D) of Calais won re-election for the District 31 seat, withstanding a challenge from Republican Judith Alexander of Calais. Perry received 1,522 votes, or 53.33%, and Alexander garnered 1,332, or 46.67%.

In the race for the District 32 seat, only 49 votes separated the two candidates, according to unofficial tallies. Harold Ian Emery (R) of Cutler was narrowly ahead of challenger Harold Prescott (D) of Whiting, with 1,670 votes, or 50.74%, to Prescott's 1,621 votes, or 49.26%.

In House District 33, retiring Washington County Sheriff Joseph Tibbetts (R) of Columbia, with 1,709 votes, or 52.70%, defeated Clifford Norton III (D) of Jonesport, who garnered 1,534 votes, or 47.3%. Tibbetts will fill the seat that was held by Rep. Eddie Dugay (D) of Cherryfield.

In House District 11, incumbent Everett McLeod Sr. (R) of Lee with 1,797 votes, or 59.44%, defeated Beth Peloquin Turner (D) of Burlington, who received 1,226 votes, or 40.56%.

In the district attorney's race for District 7, incumbent Michael Povich (R) with 19,078 votes, or 55.11%, defeated Steven Juskewitch (U), who received 15,543 votes, or 44.89%.

In the referendum issues, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights citizens' initiative was defeated with 298,123 votes, 54.44%, cast against it, and 249,536 votes, or 45.56%, cast in favor or it.

The constitutional amendment, which would increase the time to 18 months for a citizens' initiative or people's veto petition to be submitted to state officials, was approved with 276,674 votes, or 54.17%, for it and 234,054 votes, or 45.83%, against.

The polls in all of the Eastport and Calais area municipalities were busy. Baileyville reported an "excellent turnout" of 581 or 46.6% of its voters. In Lubec, the total of 863 voters was almost as high as the turnout in the presidential election two years ago. In Perry, it was a "pretty good turnout" with 414 out of 645 registered voters coming to the polls. Pleasant Point reports that 149 people voted, which is better than the usual turnout in a state election. In Whiting, which is also the polling place for some Trescott residents, 290 out of approximately 350 voters came to the polls.

Locally, voters cast their ballots as follows.
Governor of Maine: Eastport: John Baldacci (D) (243), Patricia LaMarche (Green) (104), Barbara Merrill (I) (154), Phillip NaPier (Tax Equality Rebellion) (11), Chandler Woodcock (R) (203). Baileyville: Baldacci (188), LaMarche (58), Merrill (145), NaPier (2), Woodcock (180). Calais: Baldacci (392), LaMarche (92), Merrill (298), NaPier (13), Woodcock (429). Charlotte: Baldacci (34), LaMarche (9), Merrill (36), NaPier (1), Woodcock (57). Dennysville: Baldacci (52), LaMarche (10), Merrill (47), NaPier (0), Woodcock (53). Edmunds: Baldacci (42), LaMarche (13), Merrill (52), NaPier (2), Woodcock (55). Lubec: Baldacci (284), LaMarche (117), Merrill (175), NaPier (7), Woodcock (256). Pembroke: Baldacci (111), LaMarche (44), Merrill (93), NaPier (8), Woodcock (133). Perry: Baldacci (70), LaMarche (44), Merrill (104), NaPier (7), Woodcock (180). Pleasant Point: Baldacci (8), LaMarche (18), Merrill (48), NaPier (1), Woodcock (72). Robbinston: Baldacci (37), LaMarche (22), Merrill (71), NaPier (1), Woodcock (101). Whiting: Baldacci (72), LaMarche (20), Merrill (71), NaPier (3), Woodcock (129).

U.S. Senator: Eastport: Jean Hay Bright (D) (163), William Slavick (I) (35), Olympia Snowe (R) (508). Baileyville: Hay Bright (96), Slavick (23), Snowe (450). Calais: Hay Bright (199), Slavick (57), Snowe (918). Charlotte: Hay Bright (27), Slavick (8), Snowe (112). Dennysville: Hay Bright (23), Slavick (4), Snowe (114). Edmunds: Hay Bright (37), Slavick (9), Snowe (117). Lubec: Hay Bright (220), Slavick (124), Snowe (535). Pembroke: Hay Bright (94), Slavick (19), Snowe (272). Perry: Hay Bright (70), Slavick (19), Snowe (310). Pleasant Point: Hay Bright (21), Slavick (7), Snowe (116). Robbinston: Hay Bright (53), Slavick (16), Snowe (159). Whiting: Hay Bright (78), Slavick (27), Snowe (182).

Representative to U.S. House of Representatives from District 2 C Eastport: Laurence D'Amboise (R) (134), Michael Michaud (D) (527). Baileyville: D'Amboise (98), Michaud (458). Calais: D'Amboise (306), Michaud (835). Charlotte: D'Amboise (51), Michaud (80). Dennysville: D'Amboise (33), Michaud (104). Edmunds: D'Amboise (31), Michaud (116). Lubec: D'Amboise (181), Michaud (609). Pembroke: D'Amboise (76), Michaud (274). Perry: D'Amboise (130), Michaud (263). Pleasant Point: D'Amboise (15), Michaud (120). Robbinston: D'Amboise (64), Michaud (159). Whiting: D'Amboise (81), Michaud (197).

Washington County Sheriff C Eastport: George Bunker (D) (200), Rodney Merritt (R) (222), Donald Smith (I) (287). Baileyville: Bunker (305), Merritt (137), Smith (125). Calais: Bunker (421), Merritt (450), Smith (293). Charlotte: Bunker (48), Merritt (46), Smith (42). Dennysville: Bunker (12), Merritt (36), Smith (100). Edmunds: Bunker (15), Merritt (40), Smith (111). Lubec: Bunker (29), Merritt (59), Smith (763). Pembroke: Bunker (62), Merritt (92), Smith (233). Perry: Bunker (78), Merritt (124), Smith (201). Pleasant Point: Bunker (38), Merritt (47), Smith (58). Robbinston: Bunker (72), Merritt (65), Smith (85). Whiting: Bunker (25), Merritt (75), Smith (191).

State Senate District 29 C Eastport: Thomas Finlay (D) (178), Dana Kadey (I) (33), Nancy Oden (I) (22), Kevin Raye (R) (483). Baileyville: Finlay (119), Kadey (190), Oden (7), Raye (246). Calais: Finlay (187), Kadey (215), Oden (16), Raye (769). Charlotte: Finlay (18), Kadey (28), Oden (7), Raye (83). Dennysville: Finlay (23), Kadey (20), Oden (3), Raye (105). Edmunds: Finlay (20), Kadey (25), Oden (5), Raye (112). Lubec: Finlay (277), Kadey (84), Oden (52), Raye (415). Pembroke: Finlay (86), Kadey (60), Oden (22), Raye (212). Perry: Finlay (86), Kadey (34), Oden (20), Raye (274). Pleasant Point: Finlay (18), Kadey (8), Oden (7), Raye (108). Robbinston: Finlay (50), Kadey (39), Oden (2), Raye (141). Whiting: Finlay (80), Kadey (40), Oden (23), Raye (152).

Maine House of Representatives District 30 C Dennysville: Goodwin (41), McFadden (107). Edmunds: Goodwin (48), McFadden (108). Pembroke: Goodwin (205), McFadden (172).

Maine House of Representatives District 31 C Baileyville: Judith Alexander (R), (212); Anne Perry (D) (346); Calais: Alexander (559), Perry (610); Charlotte: Alexander (70), Perry (61). Perry: Alexander (209), Perry (181). Robbinston: Alexander (101), Perry (124).

Maine House of Representatives District 32 C Eastport: Harold Ian Emery (R) (336), Harold Prescott (D) (345). Lubec: Emery (375), Prescott (431). Whiting: Emery (127), Prescott (157).

District Attorney for Washington and Hancock counties: Eastport: Steven Juskewitch (I) (305), Michael Povich (R) (356). Baileyville: Juskewitch (222), Povich (327). Calais: Juskewitch (381), Povich (736). Charlotte: Juskewitch (39), Povich (93). Dennysville: Juskewitch (57), Povich (81). Edmunds: Juskewitch (63), Povich (86). Lubec: Juskewitch (454), Povich (318). Pembroke: Juskewitch (166), Povich (186). Perry: Juskewitch (148), Povich (240). Pleasant Point: Juskewitch (70), Povich (64). Robbinston: Juskewitch (99), Povich (114). Whiting: Juskewitch (135), Povich (140).

Referendum questions
The referendum question that garnered the most publicity was Question 1, the citizen initiative known as TABOR, or the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. It asked voters, "Do you want to limit increases in state and local government spending to the rate of inflation plus population growth and to require voter approval for all tax and fee increases? Locally, the results are: Eastport (Yes) 285, (No) 413; Baileyville (Yes) 244, (No) 312; Calais (Yes) 581, (No) 501; Charlotte (Yes) 69, (No) 56; Dennysville (Yes) 60, (No) 75; Edmunds (Yes) 64, (No) 86; Lubec (Yes) 380, (No) 383; Pembroke (Yes) 163, (No) 189; Perry (Yes) 205, (No) 148; Pleasant Point (Yes) 58, (No) 67; Robbinston (Yes) 88, (No) 113; Whiting (Yes) 157, (No) 127. The unofficial statewide results are 54.44% against and 45.56% in favor.

Voters approved Question 2, a constitutional amendment asking, "Do you favor amending the Maine Constitution to state that a citizens' initiative or people's veto petition must be submitted to local or state officials by the constitutional deadline in order to be certified and, in the case of a citizens' initiative, must be filed with the Secretary of State within 18 months?" The unofficial statewide results are 54.17% in favor to 45.83% opposed. Locally, the results are: Eastport (Yes) 368, (No) 285; Baileyville (Yes) 267, (No) 273; Calais (Yes) (No); Charlotte (Yes) 56, (No) 62; Dennysville (Yes) 68, (No) 61; Edmunds (Yes) 56, (No) 78; Lubec (Yes) 388, (No) 331; Pembroke (Yes) 160, (No) 171; Perry (Yes) 189, (No) 148; Pleasant Point (Yes) 56, (No) 63; Robbinston (Yes) 92, (No) 92; Whiting (Yes) 126, (No) 136.