There are about 3,600 registered voters in Houlton, so nearly 77 percent of those eligible to vote cast ballots this year. Additionally, the town had 234 new registrations on election day.
In local races, there were no contested seats for either the Houlton Town Council or RSU 29 board. For the town council, Raymond Jay collected 2,040 votes, while George “Bill” McCluskey garnered 2,011 votes. Both men are first-time members of the town council, winning three-year seats to the group. They were sworn in during a special ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
For the RSU 29 board, Fred Grant received 2,174 votes, while Karter Kenney collected 2,016. Both were re-elected to three-year terms on the board. Grant has served as chairman of the school board for several years.
In other races, Dorothy Donahue was elected to the Board of Budget Review as a write-in candidate. She was the only candidate to declare her intentions to be a write-in; Gary Hagan was elected to the Cary Library Board of Trustees with 2,517 votes; and Albert Fitzpatrick and Josh McLaughlin were elected to the Houlton Water Company Board of Trustees with 2,280 votes and 2,048 respectively.
In the presidential race, Houlton voters cast their ballots for president-elect Donald Trump (1,573 votes), while Hillary Clinton received 940 votes; Gary Johnson collected 134 votes; and Jill Stein received 36 votes.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin out-distanced Emily Cain in the Shiretown. Poliquin received 1,614 votes, compared to 1,021 for Cain. Statewide, Poliquin won his re-election bid as he received 189,507 votes, compared to 156,338 for Cain.
Roger Sherman was unchallenged in his bid to return to the State Legislature for District 144. In Houlton, Sherman received 2,369 votes. Likewise, James Dunleavy was unchallenged for Judge of Probate. He received 2,313 votes in Houlton.
For the Register of Deeds seat, Melissa Richardson received 1,508 votes in Houlton, compared to 1,114 for challenger Nichol Roy. Richardson was re-elected to the post with a total vote tally of 15,550 compared to 8,290 for Roy.
For the referendum questions, Houlton residents said “No” to Question 1 (legalize marijuana) 1,762 opposed and 935 in favor. Statewide, the issue was extremely close with 373,236 voting in favor and 371,045 opposed.
Question 2 (public education increase) was the closest of the referendum questions in Houlton with 1,393 in favor and 1,300 opposed. Statewide, the measure passed 375,20 in favor, 366,533 opposed.
Question 3 (background checks for firearms) was strongly opposed in the Shiretown, with 1,837 opposed compared to 874 in favor. Statewide, the measure failed as 357,984 voted in favor, compared to 386,533 opposed.
Question 4 (minimum wage) was supported in Houlton as 1,425 voted in favor, compared to 1,273 opposed. Statewide, the question received 411,702 votes in favor, and 331,410 opposed.
Question 5 (ranked choice voting) was not endorsed in Houlton as 1,170 voted “Yes” compared to 1,455 who voted “No.” Statewide, the question passed 379,181 in favor and 349,296 opposed.
Question 6 (transportation bond) was supported both in Houlton and statewide. Houlton residents voted 1,450 in favor, and 1,209 opposed, while the state vote saw 448,541 in favor and 284,937 opposed.
