In Waldo County primaries, June 10, Benjamin Bryant beat fellow Belfast Republican Thomas Burpee by a margin of 230-92 in the only contested statehouse primary in the Midcoast. Bryant will face incumbent Democrat Erin Herbig of Belfast in November for the House District 97 seat. The newly-redrawn district comprises Belfast, Northport and Waldo.

In the contest for Waldo County Commissioner District 1, former Commissioner Donald Berry beat Regional Communications Center Director Owen Smith on the Republican card, 354-297. District 1 includes Belfast, Belmont, Islesboro, Morrill, Northport, Lincolnville and Waldo. Smith was more popular in Belfast, Northport and Islesboro, but Berry won in the overall tally. He will face incumbent Democrat Betty Johnson, who ousted him by two votes in 2010.

Incomplete returns from around the county showed Democrats favoring U.S. Congressional District 2 candidate Emily Cain by a three-to-one margin over Troy Jackson. Republicans gave a slight edge to Bruce Poliquin over Kevin Raye. The results were consistent with statewide tallies. Cain and Poliquin will compete for the seat vacated by Mike Michaud, who is running for governor.

Voters in the eight municipalities of Regional School Unit 20 approved the district’s $35.5 million 2014-15 budget. Of the eight towns, only Morrill returned a majority “no” vote (50 yes; 58 no). The budget would increase the local share by an average of 7-percent and would retain many positions and programs that were on the chopping block in past years. See details here.

As of Tuesday evening, four of five towns that reported results from the RSU 3 budget referendum supported the draft budget. The district comprises 11 towns in western Waldo County.

Lincolnville voters approved an ordinance limiting the use of consumer fireworks by an unofficial tally of 235-230. View the full ordinance here. The margin was more decisive for the 2014-15 Lincolnville Consolidated School budget, which passed 345-119.

Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com