Windham candidates head into final weekend of campaigning

By Ed Pierce

This is the final weekend for Windham candidates to convince voters to cast ballots for them in Tuesday’s election.

Voting in Windham's municipal election will take
place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday,
Nov. 4 at Windham High School's 
Auxiliary Gym, 406 Gray Road in Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO

Five candidates are vying for two available RSU 14 Board of Directors positions to serve for three-year terms representing Windham on the school board. The top two candidates receiving votes will be elected.

RSU 14 candidates include incumbent Christina R. Small, Matthew S. Irving, Destiny J. Johnson, Megan N. Potter, and Adam G. Zajac. Small currently serves as RSU 14 Board Chair and Caitlyn Downs is not seeking re-election for another term on the RSU 14 board.

The Board of Directors for RSU 14 is composed of nine members with three representing Raymond and six representing Windham. The board concerns itself primarily with broad questions of policy rather than with administrative details. Application of policies is an administrative task performed by the Superintendent of Schools and his/her staff, who shall be held responsible for the effective administration and supervision of the entire school system. Members of the RSU 14 board have authority only when acting as a board legally in session and all RSU 14 board positions are classified as non-partisan.

Board members are involved in policy making, choosing the schools superintendent, planning, setting goals and appraising results, approving and adopting financial resources, negotiating and approving collective bargaining agreements. The board also sets clear expectations/standards and adopts policies regarding instructional programs; determines school building needs; communicates with various constituencies; advocates for the needs of the students; establishes procedures for the operation of the board; reviews and evaluates board operations and performance; choose board officers; approves the annual school calendar; establishes and maintains effective board-superintendent relations; and works along with authorizing school administration to work with town, county, and other government and non-government officials and agencies.

For Windham Town Council, three candidates, including for the North District, South District and At-Large, will be elected for three-year terms.

In the Town Council North District, candidates are Deborah L. DeVou and Margaret A. Terry. Incumbent Jarrod Maxfield is not seeking re-election.

Town Council South District candidates are Douglas R. Fortier and Michael R. Russin. Incumbent Nicholas Kalogerakis is not seeking re-election.

For the Town Council At-Large position, the candidates are Joseph A. Campbell, Katie P. Cook and Clayton W. Haskell. Incumbent John Henry is not seeking re-election.

The Windham Town Council has seven members, three are elected at-large and four are elected from the four defined geographic areas of the town (north, south, east, and west). Voters throughout the town elect all members of the Town Council, both At-Large and by district. As outlined in the Windham Town Charter, all Windham Town Council positions are non-partisan.

A town councilor’s responsibilities are varied and include legislative and policy making in setting town policies; budget and finance in approving the annual budget and setting the town's tax rates; planning and development by approving, rejecting, or modifying plans proposed by the Windham Planning Board; directing the Town Manager by providing oversight for the Windham Town Manager and town staff; making appointments by choosing members and residents to serve on various town committees and boards; conducting investigations into the affairs of the town and its departments; and exercising statutory powers concerning legislative, financial, borrowing, and other powers given by state statutes to town officers.

Two statewide referendum questions will also appear on the ballot for voters for either a yes or no vote.

Question 1 is “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”

Question 2 is “Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?”

Voting will take place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 at Windham High School’s Auxiliary Gym, 406 Gray Road in Windham. <