By Ed Pierce
It was not politics as usual in the 2026 general election as incumbents were ousted in Windham and Raymond and referendums proposed by the Windham Town Council were defeated.
Republican State Rep. Barbara Bagshaw, who had served in the Maine House for two terms, lost by 139 votes to Democrat Bradley Youngs for the right to represent part of Windham in the House District 106 race. Youngs, a former golf professional, restaurant manager, stay-at-home father, received 2,637 votes to Bagshaw’s 2,498.
Democrat Joseph Campbell also won the Maine House District 107 seat representing part of Windham by defeating incumbent Republican Mark Cooper. Campbell, a substitute teacher, received 2,631 votes to Cooper’s 2,318.
In Raymond, Democrat Abigail Geer leads incumbent Republican Rolf Olsen by 30 votes with 98.2 percent of voting reported for the House District 86 seat, representing Raymond, Casco, Frye Island, and Poland. Geer, a community organizer, received 2,536 votes to Olsen’s 2,506. If that margin holds, Olsen could request a formal recount.
For State Senate District 26, representing Windham, Raymond, Casco, Frye Island and part of Westbrook, incumbent Democrat Tim Nangle won a third term defeating Republican challenger Kenneth Cianchette. Nangle, an IT Help Desk lead, received 11,307 votes to Cianchette’s 7,876.
In a statement to the press, Nangle said he was ready to get back to work in Augusta on behalf of his constituents.
“I’m honored that the people of Senate District 26 are once again trusting me to fight for them in Augusta,” Nangle said. “I’m ready to get back to work to lower costs for Maine’s working families and seniors, defend our rights and freedoms and build a strong future for the state we all love.”
State legislators will be sworn in on Dec. 2 with the 133rd Maine Legislature convening in Augusta on Jan. 8, 2027.
The top two recipients receiving the most votes out of four candidates were elected to RSU 14 Board of Director positions representing Windham for three-year terms. Winning re-election to the RSU 14 Board was incumbent Marge Govoni, who received 3,769 votes. Also winning a RSU 14 Board position was Megan Potter, a Case Manager Lead, who received 3,617 votes. Incumbent Joseph Kellner was third with 3,266 votes and Adam Zajac was fourth with 3,223 votes.
Two unopposed candidates were elected for three-year terms to serve on the Windham Town Council. Mark Cobb, a business owner, and incumbent Mark Morrison, a financial advisor, will be sworn in by Windham Town Clerk Anthony Blasi. Morrison received 7,068 votes to represent Windham’s East District on the council. Cobb received 7,629 votes to serve in an at-large position on the council.
Both Windham Town Council and RSU 14 Board of Directors positions are non-partisan.
In Cumberland County races, incumbent sheriff Kevin Joyce was unopposed for re-election as was Probate Judge Paul Aranson and both will continue to serve in those roles following the election.
With about 89.2 percent of precincts reporting, incumbent Cumberland County District Attorney Jacqueline Sartoris was leading Stephanie Anderson by more than 36,000 votes and appears to have won re-election for a second term.
In Windham, three referendum measures were rejected by voters.
The first referendum would have modified the Windham Town Charter to scrap the annual town meeting held every June on a Saturday where the municipal budget is discussed and voted on by residents. It would have changed municipal budget approval to a public vote held on Maine Primary Day on the second Tuesday in June coinciding with the annual RSU 14 school budget voting. Voters defeated the proposal with 5,637 voting no and 3,821 voting yes.
The second referendum would have raised the threshold requiring voter approval for off‑budget spending from $25,000 to $500,000. Windham Town Councilors said this measure would give the council flexibility in presenting either a single up‑or‑down budget vote or departmental line items. They said raising the threshold requiring voter approval for off‑budget spending would have allowed the council to approve purchases up to a $500,000 limit without going to a town-wide vote for approval. Councilors said this measure is currently being used by surrounding towns and the current limit of $25,000 no longer provides for emergency operations or acquisitions in a meaningful way. Voters defeated this proposal with 5,310 voting no and 3,943 voting yes.
The third referendum asked if the town should purchase Windham Middle School for $1 from RSU 14 once it becomes vacant in the fall of 2027 and then repurpose the building into a Community Center and housing for town offices and the Windham Public Library. The cost would be estimated at $19.5 million by issuing general obligation bonds for the project and includes design work, engineering, professional services, site preparation, construction, renovation, operating expenses, and other improvements and furnishings as may be required in connection with the project. The proposal included leveraging up to $2 million of the town fund balance as the Windham Town Council deems reasonable and necessary to reduce the borrowing amount and directly pay costs of the project. Voters defeated this proposal with 5,267 residents voting no and 4,548 voting yes.
Despite the Community Center referendum failing, the Town of Windham does retain the right of first refusal for the purchase of the Windham Middle School building once it is vacant. <
November 6, 2026
Many incumbents fall in general election races
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Cub Scout Pack 805 organizes food drive
By Ed Pierce
The father of scouting, Robert Baden-Powell once wrote that a scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. With that in mind, Windham Cub Scout Pack 805 will be conducting a food drive at the Shaw’s Supermarket in Windham to assist those in need.
This year's Scouting for Food theme is "Fill the Boat," with a boat on hand to hold all donations prior to delivery.
Josh Smeltzer of Cub Scouts Pack 805 says participating in the food drive instills character, citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in young scouts.
He said that joining the Cub Scouts is the first step in a journey to become a responsible citizen who cares about their neighbors and the community.
Smeltzer said 2026 marks the 41st anniversary of the national Scouting for Food program. It was launched in 1981 as an Eagle Scout Project by Christopher DuBois of Boy Scout Troop 643 in St. Ann, Missouri, and the program was officially implemented as a council-wide project of the Boy Scouts of America, Great Saint Louis Area Council, in 1985.
In 1988, Boy Scouts of America (now Scouting America) adopted the program, rolling it out nationwide, Smeltzer said.
Both the Windham Food Pantry and St. Ann's are in need of canned vegetables and meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, pancake, cookie and muffin mixes, pasta and rice, prepared meals like Hamburger Helper, cold and hot cereal, peanut butter, jelly, and bottled water and juices, he said.
“Thank you for your help this giving season,” Smeltzer said.
Cash donations and gift cards will also be accepted during the Nov. 14 food drive at Shaws.
For more information about Windham Cub Scout Pack 805, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.beascout.org. <
The father of scouting, Robert Baden-Powell once wrote that a scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. With that in mind, Windham Cub Scout Pack 805 will be conducting a food drive at the Shaw’s Supermarket in Windham to assist those in need.
This year's Scouting for Food theme is "Fill the Boat," with a boat on hand to hold all donations prior to delivery.
Josh Smeltzer of Cub Scouts Pack 805 says participating in the food drive instills character, citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in young scouts.
"One way Pack 805 does this is through teaching kids how to not only respect and safely enjoy the outdoors but also respect and give back to their country and their community through projects like Scouting for Food,” Smeltzer said. “The aims of Cub Scouts Pack 805 are character, citizenship, personal fitness, and leadership. One way Pack 805 does this is through teaching kids how to not only respect and safely enjoy the outdoors but also respect and give back to their country and their community through projects like Scouting for Food.”
He said that joining the Cub Scouts is the first step in a journey to become a responsible citizen who cares about their neighbors and the community.
Smeltzer said 2026 marks the 41st anniversary of the national Scouting for Food program. It was launched in 1981 as an Eagle Scout Project by Christopher DuBois of Boy Scout Troop 643 in St. Ann, Missouri, and the program was officially implemented as a council-wide project of the Boy Scouts of America, Great Saint Louis Area Council, in 1985.
In 1988, Boy Scouts of America (now Scouting America) adopted the program, rolling it out nationwide, Smeltzer said.
Both the Windham Food Pantry and St. Ann's are in need of canned vegetables and meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, pancake, cookie and muffin mixes, pasta and rice, prepared meals like Hamburger Helper, cold and hot cereal, peanut butter, jelly, and bottled water and juices, he said.
“Thank you for your help this giving season,” Smeltzer said.
Cash donations and gift cards will also be accepted during the Nov. 14 food drive at Shaws.
For more information about Windham Cub Scout Pack 805, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.beascout.org. <
Windham resident to compete in ‘Million Dollar Affordability Showdown’
By Ed Pierce
Kaullen Winter of Windham is one of just 12 nationwide finalists set to compete in the “Million Dollar Affordability Showdown” in Georgia and a chance to walk away with a $1 million prize.
“I found the program via an ad on Instagram I believe,” he said. “There was a commercial or reel that was talking about the affordability crisis and if we thought we knew why everything is so expensive. All I had to do was take a quiz and I would be entered in a sweepstakes drawing to compete in Atlanta for the grand prize of $1 million.”
The “Million Dollar Affordability Showdown” is held in Atlanta, Georgia and is the culmination of “The Million Dollar Question,” a national initiative that challenged Americans on their knowledge of economics, affordability and the issues affecting everyday life.
The “Million Dollar Affordability Showdown” contest is sponsored by The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) which launched a national campaign asking Americans a question they're already asking themselves: "What's Behind the Affordability Crisis?"
The questions that were posed in the online quiz this summer were designed to enable respondents to understand the economic forces causing America's affordability problems such as inflation, tariffs, indebtedness and soaring interest rates.
National finalists were randomly selected by The Foundation for Economic Education to compete in the "Affordability Showdown" game show taped finale in Atlanta hosted by comedian and political satirist Andrew Heaton.
"Affordability problems are often bottleneck problems," said Diogo Costa, FEE's President. "If we do not build enough homes, train enough doctors, produce enough energy, or make it easier for businesses to serve people, the result shows up as higher prices and tighter family budgets. The ‘Million Dollar Question’ asks Americans to look at the bottlenecks behind the bills."
For FEE, the contest is a bridge to teach Americans about the real economics behind rising costs of living, Costa said.
Founded in 1946, FEE has been helping Americans understand the real economics behind what they're living through. FEE’s mission is to inspire, educate, and connect future leaders with the economic, ethical, and legal principles of a free society. These principles include: individual liberty, free-market economics, entrepreneurship, private property, high moral character, and limited government.
"Affordability isn't abstract," Heaton said. "It's rent, groceries, childcare – stuff people deal with every day. This quiz turns that daily pressure into a national conversation and, for 12 people, into a shot at the Affordability Showdown finale in Atlanta with a $1 million prize."
Winter says he has no expectations for the national finals but welcomes the opportunity to travel to Atlanta.
“I hope to win it all more than anything, but enjoying the free vacation is also part of the experience,” he said.
As the father of five young girls, Winter spends a lot of time when he’s not working playing with his children, playing video games, working on equipment, and enjoying whatever life has to offer.
He says he’s looking forward to competing in the “Million Dollar Affordability Showdown.” Taping of the national finals will take place later this month.
“New experiences are always a bonus,” Winter said. <
Kaullen Winter of Windham is one of just 12 nationwide finalists set to compete in the “Million Dollar Affordability Showdown” in Georgia and a chance to walk away with a $1 million prize.
“I found the program via an ad on Instagram I believe,” he said. “There was a commercial or reel that was talking about the affordability crisis and if we thought we knew why everything is so expensive. All I had to do was take a quiz and I would be entered in a sweepstakes drawing to compete in Atlanta for the grand prize of $1 million.”
The “Million Dollar Affordability Showdown” is held in Atlanta, Georgia and is the culmination of “The Million Dollar Question,” a national initiative that challenged Americans on their knowledge of economics, affordability and the issues affecting everyday life.
As just one contestant out of hundreds of thousands of participants from across the country, Winter made it to the final 12 contestants and will be flown to Atlanta to compete in the live competition. This summer, he answered questions at the “Million Dollar Question Official Site” covering a range of affordability topics like housing, wages, healthcare, groceries, childcare, and government spending.
The “Million Dollar Affordability Showdown” contest is sponsored by The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) which launched a national campaign asking Americans a question they're already asking themselves: "What's Behind the Affordability Crisis?"
The questions that were posed in the online quiz this summer were designed to enable respondents to understand the economic forces causing America's affordability problems such as inflation, tariffs, indebtedness and soaring interest rates.
National finalists were randomly selected by The Foundation for Economic Education to compete in the "Affordability Showdown" game show taped finale in Atlanta hosted by comedian and political satirist Andrew Heaton.
"Affordability problems are often bottleneck problems," said Diogo Costa, FEE's President. "If we do not build enough homes, train enough doctors, produce enough energy, or make it easier for businesses to serve people, the result shows up as higher prices and tighter family budgets. The ‘Million Dollar Question’ asks Americans to look at the bottlenecks behind the bills."
For FEE, the contest is a bridge to teach Americans about the real economics behind rising costs of living, Costa said.
Founded in 1946, FEE has been helping Americans understand the real economics behind what they're living through. FEE’s mission is to inspire, educate, and connect future leaders with the economic, ethical, and legal principles of a free society. These principles include: individual liberty, free-market economics, entrepreneurship, private property, high moral character, and limited government.
"Affordability isn't abstract," Heaton said. "It's rent, groceries, childcare – stuff people deal with every day. This quiz turns that daily pressure into a national conversation and, for 12 people, into a shot at the Affordability Showdown finale in Atlanta with a $1 million prize."
Winter says he has no expectations for the national finals but welcomes the opportunity to travel to Atlanta.
“I hope to win it all more than anything, but enjoying the free vacation is also part of the experience,” he said.
As the father of five young girls, Winter spends a lot of time when he’s not working playing with his children, playing video games, working on equipment, and enjoying whatever life has to offer.
He says he’s looking forward to competing in the “Million Dollar Affordability Showdown.” Taping of the national finals will take place later this month.
“New experiences are always a bonus,” Winter said. <
VFW’s Veterans Day observance nearing in Windham
By Ed Pierce
For the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States of America, a federal holiday recognizing their service and sacrifices to the nation, Veterans Day, is observed on Nov. 11 every year, symbolic of the 11th Hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marking the end of World War I. In Windham, the public is invited to a special event on Veterans Day to remember those who have stepped up and given of themselves in the defense of liberty.
This year’s Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the Windham Veterans Center and will feature a guest speaker and the student winners of this year’s local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 essay contest.
The event is part of national celebrations of Veterans Day, which was originally known as “Armistice Day.” The commemoration of a special day to pay tribute to military veterans was launched on Nov. 11, 1919, one year after the end of World War I. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared “Armistice Day” to take place annually in America on the “11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour” to remember the end of what was known as “The Great War,” now called World War I.
In his original proclamation President Wilson was resolute about creating a day to pay tribute to American veterans.
“Reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations,” Wilson wrote in his original proclamation to create “Armistice Day.”
In June 1954, the U.S. Congress officially changed the name of “Armistice Day” to Veterans Day to honor those Americans who perished in World War II and Korea since “Armistice Day” had first been observed. In 1975, U.S. President Gerald Ford designated Nov. 11 as the permanent Veterans Day holiday because of its historical significance for the nation.
VFW Post 10643 Commander Jeff Cook of Windham is a retired Navy Seal and will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for this year’s Veterans Day event at the Windham Veterans Center.
Cook was 40 years old when he first went to serve in Afghanistan.
“I was part of the group that was sent to build the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan which was the epicenter of the war against the Tailban and al-Queda for 20 years,” he said. “During this time, many military service young men and women tasked with this job, died. It is important that we remember them for their sacrifice.”
The Veterans Day observance will include patriotic songs and Windham Boy Scout Troop 805 will assist with seating and the Presentation of the Colors. Members of Windham’s state delegation and the Windham Town Council will attend.
Cook will announce the winners of this year’s VFW-sponsored essay competitions who will read their essays for the audience in attendance for the Veterans Day observance. The theme of this year’s Patriot’s Pen contest for students in grades 6 to 8 and for the Voice of Democracy contest for students in grades 9 to 12 is “What a Veteran Taught Me About America."
Veterans Day is a federal holiday recognized each November to celebrate and honor all U.S. veterans, those who are deceased or living. No matter what day of the week, Veterans Day always falls on November 11 each year and is recognized as a federal holiday nationally.
The Veterans Day event in Windham is free and open to the public at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham. <
For the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States of America, a federal holiday recognizing their service and sacrifices to the nation, Veterans Day, is observed on Nov. 11 every year, symbolic of the 11th Hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marking the end of World War I. In Windham, the public is invited to a special event on Veterans Day to remember those who have stepped up and given of themselves in the defense of liberty.
This year’s Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the Windham Veterans Center and will feature a guest speaker and the student winners of this year’s local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 essay contest.
The event is part of national celebrations of Veterans Day, which was originally known as “Armistice Day.” The commemoration of a special day to pay tribute to military veterans was launched on Nov. 11, 1919, one year after the end of World War I. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared “Armistice Day” to take place annually in America on the “11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour” to remember the end of what was known as “The Great War,” now called World War I.
In his original proclamation President Wilson was resolute about creating a day to pay tribute to American veterans.
“Reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations,” Wilson wrote in his original proclamation to create “Armistice Day.”
In June 1954, the U.S. Congress officially changed the name of “Armistice Day” to Veterans Day to honor those Americans who perished in World War II and Korea since “Armistice Day” had first been observed. In 1975, U.S. President Gerald Ford designated Nov. 11 as the permanent Veterans Day holiday because of its historical significance for the nation.
VFW Post 10643 Commander Jeff Cook of Windham is a retired Navy Seal and will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for this year’s Veterans Day event at the Windham Veterans Center.
Cook was 40 years old when he first went to serve in Afghanistan.
“I was part of the group that was sent to build the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan which was the epicenter of the war against the Tailban and al-Queda for 20 years,” he said. “During this time, many military service young men and women tasked with this job, died. It is important that we remember them for their sacrifice.”
The Veterans Day observance will include patriotic songs and Windham Boy Scout Troop 805 will assist with seating and the Presentation of the Colors. Members of Windham’s state delegation and the Windham Town Council will attend.
Cook will announce the winners of this year’s VFW-sponsored essay competitions who will read their essays for the audience in attendance for the Veterans Day observance. The theme of this year’s Patriot’s Pen contest for students in grades 6 to 8 and for the Voice of Democracy contest for students in grades 9 to 12 is “What a Veteran Taught Me About America."
Veterans Day is a federal holiday recognized each November to celebrate and honor all U.S. veterans, those who are deceased or living. No matter what day of the week, Veterans Day always falls on November 11 each year and is recognized as a federal holiday nationally.
The Veterans Day event in Windham is free and open to the public at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham. <
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