Belfast opposes absentee ballot changes, endorses dangerous weapon initiative; elects write-in school board candidate
BELFAST — A write-in campaign in Belfast worked for Candidate Madison Cook, who had stepped forward to run for a seat representing Belfast on the RSU 71 School Board. She earned 1,338 votes at the polls Nov. 4, despite her name not appearing on the ballot.
Martha Proulx, whose name was on the ballot, earned 1,706 votes. The two other candidates, Alva Philbrook and Rachel Philbrook (who dropped out of the race but her name remained on the ballot), earned respectively, 646 and 474 votes.
Cook was a declared write-in candidate and duly elected.
Regional School Unit 71 comprises Belfast, Belmont, Morrill, Searsmont and Swanville public schools.
On Statewide Questions 1 and 2, Belfast voted:
Question 1 (absentee ballot changes)
Yes; 575
No: 2,485
Question 2 (dangerous weapons prohibitions)
Yes: 2,409
No: 640
