Harpswell voters overwhelmingly supported a pair of school budget questions at the polls on Tuesday, June 11. Meanwhile, the town’s Republican voters backed Andrew Piantidosi as the GOP challenger to eight-term U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree in the 1st Congressional District.
Voters of all affiliations cast ballots in the Maine School Administrative District 75 budget validation referendum, as well as a bond question for Region 10 Technical High School. Harpswell voted 494-117 in favor of the school district’s budget and 557-54 in favor of the bond, according to unofficial results from the town clerk.
The 2024-25 budget for MSAD 75 totals $55 million, a 4.4% increase from the previous year. Harpswell taxpayers will contribute $10.4 million, up 3.4%.
The Region 10 bond issue involves the “removal and replacement of the bridge structure” outside the school to maintain safe access to the building, according to an explanation on the ballot. Region 10 will borrow up to $643,821 through a state program. The state will forgive 45% of the loan, while Region 10 will repay the remainder at 0% interest over 10 years.
On the primary ballots, Democrats and Republicans weighed in on their candidates for five offices in the November election.
Only one primary for either party was contested. Harpswell Republicans backed Piantidosi, of Cape Elizabeth, over Ronald Russell, of Kennebunkport, 102-79. Both are political newcomers.
Russell, however, leads the race, according to the Bangor Daily News. With 75.65% of results in at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12, Russell has 12,615 votes to 9,812 for Piantidosi.
In primaries with only one candidate, Republicans endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Demi Kouzounas, of Saco, with 163 votes; Maine Senate candidate Michael Lawler, of Brunswick, with 167; Maine House of Representatives candidate Sean Hall, of Harpswell, with 188; and Cumberland County Register of Probate candidate Jerry Lynn DeWitt, of New Gloucester, with 153.
All Democratic primary candidates were unopposed. Voters cast 268 ballots for U.S. Senate candidate David Costello, of Brunswick; 391 for Pingree; 383 for state Sen. Matthea “Mattie” Daughtry, of Brunswick; 389 for state Rep. Cheryl Golek, of Harpswell; and 345 for Cumberland County Register of Probate Susan Schwartz.
Costello and Kouzounas will challenge two-term U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who lives in Brunswick. Lawler will challenge Daughtry, who is serving her second term. Hall will challenge Golek, who is completing her first term. DeWitt will challenge Schwartz. Schwartz has yet to complete a full term, having been appointed to the post in 2023.
