Municipal candidate field finalized in Raymond

By Ed Pierce

The countdown to Election Day is on in Raymond as candidates have been finalized for balloting on Tuesday, June 9.

Voting in Raymond's municipal election, Maine State Primary
and the RSU 14 budget validation will take place between
7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 at Jordan-Small
Middle School in Raymond. FILE PHOTO

Besides filling positions on the Raymond Select Board, Raymond Budget-Finance Committee, and a position representing Raymond on the RSU 14 Board of Directors, voters will determine the fate of state gubernatorial and U.S. Senate party candidates for November’s General Election, the annual town budget, choose to enact a proposed short-term rental ordinance, amend Medical Cannabis Cultivation Facilities and Off-Street Parking ordinances, and if Raymond should accept Tarkiln Hill Road and Shady Lane as town roads.

Among municipal positions, voters will elect two Select Board members for three-year terms, and one Select Board member for a one-year term. Two Budget-Finance Committee members will be elected for one-year terms, and one three-year Budget-Finance Committee seat is also up for grabs. Voters will also elect a representative to a RSU 14 Board of Directors position to serve a three-year term.

Raymond Town Clerk Melanie Fernald says the following candidates have qualified to appear on the June 9 ballot:

Raymond Select Board

(two positions, three-year terms)

Derek Ray, incumbent seeking re-election

Fred Miller, seeking open seat after resignation of Samuel Gifford was accepted by Select Board during April 14 meeting.

Raymond Select Board

(one position, one-year term)

Charlotte Jewell, a former RSU 14 Board of Directors member representing Raymond

Denis Morse, former Raymond Select Board chair seeking a return to office following December 2025 recall

Raymond Budget-Finance Committee

(one position, three-year term)

Diana Froisland, incumbent seeking re-election and a former RSU 14 Board of Directors member representing Raymond

Raymond Budget-Finance Committee 

(two positions, one-year terms)

Keith Dyer, a first-time candidate

RSU 14 Board of Directors

(one position, three-year term)

Jodi Carroll, incumbent seeking re-election

There are 24 total Warrant Articles put forward by the Raymond Budget-Finance Committee that comprise the Town Budget for 2026-2027 which will be finalized by the Raymond Select Board following a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 at the Raymond Broadcast Studio, 4523 Webbs Mills Road in Raymond by members of the Raymond Select Board.

Some of those Warrant Article Referendum Questions include asking voter approval for the town to raise and appropriate $3,222,764 for General Government Services; $2,049,461 for Public Works; $36,500 from the Cemetery Trust Fund/Restricted Fund for cemetery maintenance and operations.; $1,780,271 for Public Safety including $1,731,451 for the Fire/Rescue Department and $48,820 for Animal Control.

Other Warrant Article Referendum questions will ask voters to appropriate $546,183 from the tax increment of the Pipeline/Route 302 Tax Increment Financing District for a 2026-2027 project proposed in the Tax Increment Financing District Development Program; raise and appropriate an additional $281,300 to the General Government Appropriation for Recreation programs and services; and to appropriate $155,700 from the Tassel Top Park Enterprise Fund for the administration of activities at Tassel Top Park. Voters will be asked to appropriate $196,300 from the Recreation Programs Special Revenue Fund for the administration of recreation program activities; $243,026 for the Raymond Village Library; $756,988 for Debt Services; $1,232,211 for the Capital Improvement Program; and $425,000 for Public Works Equipment.

Voters will decide if Raymond should raise and appropriate $25,600 for community transportation services, with $13,000 for the Lakes Region Explorer fixed route service and $12,600 for Regional Transportation Program’s Micro-Van Service.

Other town expenditures requiring voter approval are $1,500 to the Crescent Lake Watershed Association, $3,000 for Spurwink Services, $1,134 for LifeFlight of Maine, $1,500 to the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, and $1,000 left for the Raymond Town Manager's discretion.

Warrant Article asks voters to appropriate $2,256,072 from estimated non-property tax revenues to reduce the property tax commitment, together with all categories of funds, which may be available from the federal government, and any other sources.

According to Fernald, polls will be open for Raymond voters from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Jordan-Small Middle School in Raymond.

An informational Town Meeting forum will be held at 9.am. Saturday, May 9 at the Raymond Broadcast Studio, 423 Webbs Mills Road in Raymond.

Fernald says absentee ballots will be available for the election beginning May 12.

She said that absentee ballots can be requested online at https://absenteeballotrequest.sos.maine.gov/AbsenteeBallotMaine/Request or by phone by calling 207-655-4742 ext. 124 or by completing an application at the Raymond Town Office during business hours. If requesting an absentee ballot by phone, the Town Clerk’s Office must speak directly with each voter requesting an absentee ballot.

In-person absentee voting will be available at the Raymond Town Office, 401 Webbs Mills Road in Raymond during regular business hours starting on Tuesday, May 12 and continuing through 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 4. <