Longtime Belfast City Council members retain seats after contested vote

Tue, 11/06/2018 - 11:30pm

    BELFAST — The (unofficial) numbers are in for Belfast City Council’s contested seats and longtime council members Neal Harkness and Mary Mortier have won their seats against challengers Joanne Moesswilde and Ellie Daniels, respectively. 

    Neal Harkness, edged out his opponent Joanne Moesswilde by just nine percent, with Harkness pulling in 1,555 votes to Moesswilde’s 1,418. Harkness is Councilor to Ward Two. 

    Mary Mortier also secured a win against write-in Ellie Daniels, who tossed her hat into the Ward One arena after growing frustrated with the planned salmon farm being built in Belfast. Mortier took 70 percent of the votes with 2,199 cast in her favor compared to 661 write-ins for Daniels. 

    Paul Dean was elected to the council for Ward Five, receiving 2,190 votes compared to 555 write-in votes for competitor Jim Markel. 

    Susan Bailey was named as Councilor of Wards Three and Four and Jessica Wood has been named as one of the City’s representatives on the RSU 71 School Board.


    Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com