SEARSPORT - Voters on Tuesday re-elected one selectmen, replaced another, and approved a measure to seek withdrawal from Regional School Unit 20.

In a four-way race for two seats on the board of selectmen, challenger John Merrithew and incumbent Richard Desmarais prevailed with 229 and 209 votes respectively. Selectman Doug Norman came in a close third with 204 votes. Challenger Travis Otis got 108 votes.

A ballot question that asked for voter approval to petition for withdrawal from RSU 20 passed by a vote of 336-103.

The vote makes Searsport the seventh of RSU 20’s eight municipalities to officially begin the withdrawal procedure. Officials in neighboring Stockton Springs have approved a citizen petition and scheduled a special referendum on withdrawal for March 25.

According to state statute, town officials must now form a withdrawal committee charged with drafting a plan to leave the district. The final withdrawal plan must be approved by the school board and the state Department of Education, and ultimately by voters in a final referendum.

Voters approved Dustin Nadeau to fill the seat on the RSU 20 Board of Directors currently held by James Cunningham. Nadeau ran unopposed.

In a 10-way race for nine seats on the town’s budget advisory committee, voters picked Dorothy Alling, Brian Callahan, David Johnson, Rexford Kelly, Percy King, Arthur Koch Sr., Michael Nahme, Keith Otis and Robert Jeff Pearson. Tallies ranged from 293 received by Kelly to 166 for Gary Moore, who came up short of a seat on the committee by 18 votes.

Other municipal business comes before voters on Saturday at the annual town meeting, 9 a.m. at the Searsport District High School gym.

Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com