Voters elect November candidates, approve bond issues
Penobscot region voters picked their candidates for November’s election and approved three bond questions — including expanding internet access and improving transportation infrastructure — during Tuesday’s state primary elections.
Across Maine, voters supported a $15 million bond to improve high-speed internet infrastructure and a $150 million bond for transportation improvements.
Voters also approved a $6 million bond that will upgrade emergency communications for the Penobscot County Communications Center.
A poll worker stands behind a plexiglass barrier in between checking in voters during the state primary election in Orono on July 14, 2020. (Nina Mahaleris | The Penobscot Times)
Orono Town Councilor Laurie Osher won the Democratic nomination for the election for Maine House District 123 in November after defeating opponent Meghan Gardner by 68 votes, according to Tuesday’s unofficial results.
All results are unofficial until certified by Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap.
Gardner finished with 46.5 percent of the votes, while Osher secured a seven-point lead. Cameron Bowie, who ran unopposed, will be the Republican candidate for the District 123 race.
Joseph Perry Sr. will be the Democratic nominee for Maine House District 124 against Republican Daniel LaPointe. Christian Ireland will run as the Republican candidate against Democrat James Dill, for state Senate in District 5.
Article one, asking whether the RSU 26 school district can appropriate $15,770,447 and raise $7,296,550 for the 2020-21 school budget, passed with 83.1 percent of the votes. Orono voters also approved bond questions investing in high-speed internet and transportation infrastructure.
[Find out how your municipality voted here]
Old Town voters selected incumbent Michelle Dunphy to run as the democratic candidate against Republican Edward Paradis for Maine House District 122, according to unofficial results.
A sign at the entrance of the Orono Council Chambers directs voters during the state primary election on July 14, 2020. (Nina Mahaleris | The Penobscot Times)
Voters approved the RSU 34 school budget for 2020-2021 with 81.2 percent of votes, and approved both bond questions regarding infrastructure.
Veazie voters elected Jeff Manter and Aaron Turcotte to town council on Tuesday, and approved Kristen Bagley for the school committee. Robert Tomlinson, running unopposed, was voted to the sewer district board.
Incumbent State Sen. Paul Davis beat Douglas Thomas to become the Republican candidate for District 4 with 2,184 votes overall. He’ll run against democratic candidate David Ziemer in November.
Republican Gary Drinkwater and Democrat Megan Smith will also contend for a Maine House seat in District 121.
Republican candidate for State Senate Larry Lockman won 81 percent of votes in Bradley, but ultimately lost District 8 by a 78-vote margin to opponent Kim Rosen, according to unofficial results submitted to the Bangor Daily News.
[Kim Rosen beats Larry Lockman as GOP hopefuls backed by LePage lose primaries]
The State Senate District 8 encompasses Bradley, Brewer, Bucksport, Burlington, Castine, Clifton, Dedham, Eddington, Great Pond, Holden, Lincoln, Lowell, Orland, Orrington, Penobscot, Verona Island, and some unorganized territories in Hancock and Penobscot Counties.
Rosen will face Democratic candidate and former Brewer Mayor Bev Uhlenhake, who beat Trudy Scee by 1,172 votes Tuesday. Bradley voters also approved articles one and two regarding budget funding appropriations for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.