NOTE: Updated to reflect statewide final results
The town voted overwhelmingly to keep Phippsburg Elementary School open and retain the tax collector, treasurer and town clerk jobs as elected positions.
In a non-binding referendum, 911 voted against sending local students to a new school being built in Bath versus 153 in favor of the move.
By varying margins, voters rejected an effort to change the three town hall jobs from elected to appointed: tax collector (682-399), treasurer (678-406) and town clerk (688-395). The three jobs have long been held by Lisa Wallace, who has said she would like to run for another three-year term in 2028. Proponents of the change said it would make the positions more accountable. Opponents said the office has been running smoothly under Wallace.
In other local elections, Gary Read ran unopposed for a second term on the select board, write-in candidate John Settelen appears to have won a seat on the budget committee and the town voted by a wide margin (832-210) to support the RSU1 school budget.
Democratic primary
In the Democratic primary (616 voters), Graham Platner received 432 votes for the right to face incumbent Susan Collins in the November race for U.S. Senate. In the governor’s race, Nirav Shah (202), Hannah Pingree (179) and Shana Bellows (94) were the top three local vote-getters. Statewide, Pingree ended up edging Shah after the ranked-choice process.
Chellie Pingree (U.S. Congress-District 1), Denise Tepler (Maine Senate), Trent Vellella (Maine House) and Gail Easton were unopposed, while Barbara Ann Cray (329) defeated Natasha Irving (157) for District Attorney for the 6th district.
Republican primary
In the GOP primary (463 voters), Susan Collins was unopposed for reelection to the U.S.Senate. In the governor’s race, the top three locally were Bobby Charles (168), Jonathan Bush (93) and Benjamin Midgley (81). Ranked-choice voting ultimately placed Charles on the November ballot. Joshua Pietrowicz narrowly edged Ronald Russell for U.S. Congress-District 1, while Nicholas Hamlin topped Suzanne Andresen for the Maine House.
Complete local election returns are available on the town website.