Voters in Windham and Raymond make voices heard on Primary Day

SEWER PROPOSAL PASSES IN WINDHAM WITH 71 PERCENT OF VOTE 

By Ed Pierce

Maine Primary Day saw steady turnout in both Windham and Raymond as important issues were decided and candidates were chosen for the general election in November.

Voting in Windham was conducted at the Windham High School's Auxiliary Gym with voters in Raymond casting ballots at Jordan-Small Middle School. Voters in both Windham and Raymond were asked to approve or reject the RSU 14 proposed budget with Windham voters also asked to approve or reject a proposed sewer project for North Windham.

The Town of Windham’s referendum to create a sewer and wastewater treatment facility for North Windham was overwhelming approved by voters with 71 percent, or 1,499 in favor, and 590 voting to reject the proposal. Another sewer project for North Windham was voted down 10 years ago by Windham voters. 

Windham voters also approved both questions on the ballot related to the RSU 14 budget, with Question 1 tallying 1,570 votes for and 537 against and Question 2 being approved by a margin of 1,514 to 579. 

Following Tuesday’s Primary, candidates who will advance to the general election this fall are:

State Senate District 26

Gary Plummer (Republican)
Timothy Nangle (Democrat)

State Representative District 106

Barbara Bagshaw (Republican)
Jonathan Priest (Democrat)

Bagshaw defeated Tom Tyler in the Republican Primary by a margin of 371 to 177. Tyler had formerly served two different terms in the Maine House representing Windham, while Bagshaw is running for state representative for the first time.

State Representative District 107

Paul Fullam (Democrat)
Michael Hall (Republican)

According to Raymond Town Clerk Sue Look, all but one of the 15 Town Warrant items on this year’s ballot regarding the annual town budget and taxation rate for the coming year were passed by voters in Raymond. 

The question "Do you support allowing adult use and medical marijuana establishments to operate in the Town of Raymond and the development of an ordinance to regulate the location and operation of those uses?" was defeated by voters with 341 opposed to 329 in favor of the measure. 

Look said that the RSU 14 school budget was also approved by Raymond voters with Budget Question 1 passing 481 to 181 and Question 2 receiving 514 votes to 135 opposed.

Raymond candidates advancing to the general election in November include:

State Representative District 86

Jessica Fay (Democrat)
Greg Foster (Republican)

Foster defeated challenger Karen Lockwood for the Republican nomination to represent District 86 in the Maine House, 231 to 76.

Raymond Select Board (two seats for three-year terms) 

Rolf Olsen and Teresa Sadak

Raymond Budget-Finance Committee (three seats for three-year terms)

Deanna Lee and Karen Lockwood. Shawn McKillop received 15 write-in votes and will fill the third seat on the Budget-Finance Committee.

RSU 14 Board of Directors (one seat for a three-year term)

Charlotte Jewell

RSU 14 Board of Directors (one seat for a one-year term)

Jodi Carroll

Kevin Joyce (Cumberland County Sheriff) and Paul Aranson (Judge of Probate) were unopposed on Primary Day for Cumberland County positions.

Incumbent Jonathan Sahrbeck was defeated by Jacqueline Sartoris in his bid to earn the Democratic nomination as Cumberland County District Attorney for District 2. <