Local voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, June 11, for primary elections involving national and state legislatures, as well as two county government seats.
Several communities also face important local questions.
Washburn residents will decide whether to reopen or eliminate their police department, which closed temporarily on Feb. 29. Interim Police Chief Cyr Martin was due to leave the post in January but stayed through February, and without a chief or staff, police service was transferred to the Aroostook County Sheriff’s office.
A public hearing on the police department is slated at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at Washburn District High School so residents can weigh in.
Castle Hill, Chapman, Mapleton, Presque Isle and Westfield, which are served by SAD 1, will decide whether to approve the school budget, which was adopted during a public meeting on May 14.
The $30,820,480 budget for the 2024-25 school year is $1.68 million more than last year’s figure, due mainly to salary and benefits, utility hikes and rising costs of goods and services, district officials said that evening.
The second question asks voters if they wish to continue the budget referendum process for the next three years.
Now, the budget is adopted during a public meeting, then approved at a referendum in June. A “yes” vote would continue that same process for three years. A “no” vote would discontinue the June referendum election, with the public voting only at the district budget meeting.
For Aroostook County government, Paul Underwood (R-Presque Isle) is running uncontested as an incumbent candidate for county commissioner. Michael Carpenter (D-Houlton) is also running uncontested for judge of probate.
Both Michael Soboleski of Phillips and Austin Theriault of Fort Kent are seeking the Republican candidacy for U.S. representative.
The Democratic ballot includes: for U.S. senator, David Costello of Brunswick; for U.S. representative, Jared Golden of Lewiston; for state senator, Vaughn McLaughlin of Fort Fairfield in District 1 and Matthew Rush of Houlton in District 2; and for state representative, David Crea of Fort Fairfield in District 3, Jordyn Rossignol of Caribou in District 4, Kevin Freeman of Presque Isle in District 5 and Melanie Tompkins of Mapleton in District 6.
The Republican ballot includes: for U.S. senator, Demi Kouzounas of Saco; for state senator, Sue Bernard of Caribou in District 1 and Harold “Trey” Stewart of Presque Isle in District 2; and for state representative, Mark Babin of Fort Fairfield in District 3, Timothy Guerrette of Caribou in District 4, Joseph Underwood of Presque Isle in District 5 and Donald Ardell of Monticello in District 6.
Community polling times and sites include the following:
Ashland: Ashland Rec Center, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Blaine: Blaine Town Office, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Castle Hill: Mapleton Fire Department, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Chapman: Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Easton: Odd Fellows Hall, Station Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mapleton: Mapleton Fire Department, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mars Hill: Mars Hill Community Center, 10 ACI Street, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Portage Lake: Portage Town Hall, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Presque Isle: Sargent Family Community Center, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Washburn: Washburn Municipal Building, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Contact town officials for information if your community is not listed.
