Elections 2020 results: An election cycle like no other in recent history

Courage, compromise, and the ability to solve problems -- these are the qualities I look for in our elected leaders, and the values I have seen demonstrated by candidate for U.S. Senate Sara Gideon.  

Sara had the guts to stand up to our former Governor when he used bullying tactics, and she won't bow down to Trump should the worst case scenario happen. She's proven that she's someone who can reach across the aisle and work in a bipartisan fashion to get things done for the people of…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s 2020…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the …

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the …

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the …

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s 2020…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s 2020…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s 2020…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s 2020…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the …

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s 2020…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s 2020…

Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for Maine State Legislature, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the state. Candidates responding with their individual written answers will have their responses stored in the Pilot’s 2020…

ROCKLAND — The Oceanside High School social studies department conducted a virtual mock election between Tuesday, Oct. 27 and Friday, Oct. 30. 

Students and staffers at the school elected to oust three incumbents while sending two incumbents to reelection victories. 

Four Democrats won races among the Mariners casting ballots, while two Republicans won races. 

In the Presidential race, Democrat Joe Biden defeated incumbent Republican Donald Trump by a 113-81 combined…

AUGUSTA — Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced Monday, Sept. 28 the launch of a new elections feature for the state allowing voters casting absentee ballots this November to track the status of their absentee ballot. 

The service can be found by clicking here, and at the top of the…

It feels like I’m in an emotionally abusive relationship with yet another disingenuous Republican real estate developer who doesn’t know who he’s messing with. No, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mike Mullins.

Mr. Mullins started out his obscenely expensive campaign (so far he’s spent over $77,000.00 for a Maine House seat, a record, by the way) by hiring Ms. Marci Casas and paying her roughly eleven thousand dollars. He’s running against Valli Geiger for Maine…

THOMASTON — The Town of Thomaston has announced some information about voting for the upcoming Nov. 3 election. 

Early Voting ends Friday, Oct. 30, and the town office, on Valley Street in the old Libby School, will remain open until 5 p.m. with the entrance in the rear.

Meanwhile, polls will be open Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the town office. 

All absentee ballots must be received by the town clerk before 8 p.m. on Election Day. Please put…

At the end of September, all four of Maine’s congressional members voted to pass a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown.

As a part of this continuing resolution, several critical anti-hunger programs will continue to receive funding. Programs such as SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) and the Pandemic-EBT have become essential supports to the sharply increasing number of Mainers who have recently found themselves unable to meet their families’ hunger needs.

…

Save Rockland Business is an informal Alliance of businesses and organizations who share concern about the minimum wage referendum question on the Rockland ballot.  The Alliance encourages Rockland voters to vote ‘No’ on the minimum wage referendum question. 

The Alliance has come together in response to the action of the Rockland City Council to place the issue of a local minimum wage on the current ballot following discussion at one meeting on September 14 – one week prior to the…

We are writing in support of Adam Lachman for Rockland's City Council. Adam is a candidate who possesses the experience, commitment and integrity that we should all want to see in our elected officials. In addition to being a small business owner and native of the Midcoast, he has worked in government for nearly a decade at the local, State and Federal levels.

Adam is NOT a career politician, however. His work has focused in the areas of public policy and local and State economics. He…

Last month marked the hottest September ever recorded since the U.S. government began tracking temperatures in 1880.

As the local effects of climate change knock on our door here in Maine, it is imperative that we embrace both the challenges and opportunities ahead of us. After more than eleven years working in solar energy, I see these opportunities every day and know the financial and societal impact they hold.

Chip Curry understands the importance of supporting energy…

I started volunteering for Chip Curry after asking him some tough questions about the negative impact of internet “deserts” — the lack of access to reliable high-speed internet in much of Waldo County.  
 
I believe that this infrastructure issue dramatically reduces our ability to educate our kids and adults, to provide remote healthcare services that benefit from professionals being able to see and treat their patients in their own homes, to attract businesses to Waldo County,…

UNION — The Union Town Office will be open for voting and registering to vote only on Friday, October 30 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to a Wednesday morning notice from the town office. 

ISLESBORO — The town clerk for Islesboro has announced some extended hours for in-person voting ahead of the November 3 election. 

The town office will remain open until 7 p.m., instead of the usual 4:30 p.m. closing, Wednesday, Oct. 28. The office will open, as scheduled, at 10 a.m. 

Thursday, Oct. 29 marks the final day to request an absentee ballot without a special circumstance for the upcoming election. 

The town office will remain open an extra half-four until 5 p.…

As a candidate for State Senate I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with hundreds of people from all over Waldo County. I have found that we are not nearly as divided as outsiders say we are. We share many values and have a history of working together with respect. 

We value fairness, justice, safety, and compassion. We believe that the vulnerable should be cared for and…

Following feedback from dozens of Rockland businesses and organizations regarding the minimum wage referendum currently on the Rockland ballot, the Board of Directors of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce has issued the following statement.

As an association of hundreds of local businesses and organizations employing thousands of local residents, the Chamber and its members fully recognize the challenges of living affordably in Rockland, and the need to find workable…

I write to urge my fellow citizens to elect Chip Curry to the Maine State Senate for District 11.

Knowing Chip as I do, I would support him under any circumstances.

But sending him to represent us in Augusta is most urgent right now—at a time when racial and cultural conflict, anger, fear and division consume our politics at the federal, state and local levels.

When elected officials and candidates for public office exploit these fault lines in pursuit of power, we fight…

I’ve known Senator Dave Miramant since way back when he was a selectman in Camden, and he has always been very accessible, stopping by my business, Village Variety, to chat about issues coming up in Augusta that could affect my business and others like mine. And he doesn’t just stop by when there’s an election coming up. That’s who Dave is: a great senator who looks out for us and works hard to represent our voices in Augusta. 

Not only is Dave…

Each fall Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District holds an election for one three-year position on the five-member Board of Supervisors. This year’s candidates for the open position of supervisor are Robyn Tierney of Union and Nancy Prisk of Southport Island.

Robyn Tierney recently moved to Union after semi-retiring from a career as a restoration ecologist and project manager in New Mexico. With a PhD in grassland ecology, Tierney has worked as an environmental and land…

MIDCOAST — With barely more than a week until Election Day 2020, more voters around the country have already cast ballots in this year’s presidential election than the number of people who voted early or absentee in the 2016 race, according to The Associated Press, in an Oct. 25 report.

That trend is mirrored…

As a missionary pastor serving in Hope, back in the late 1980s, my family and I developed a true love for the people, the culture, and the unique natural beauty of this amazing community.

It was during that time that we first met Molly (Pease) Luce. Even as a young woman, she was a force to be reckoned with. Having kept in touch over the years, we’ve seen not much has changed.

Filled with a deep sense of compassion and a gift for service, she has taken her life experience and…

Finding middle ground is one of the most important parts of being a good teammate. Athletes on winning sports teams understand that they must set aside their differences in order to win. Striking a compromise that suits everyone’s strengths is rarely easy, especially under pressure. This takes communication and empathy. 

Right now in America our government is not functioning like a team and our democracy is at risk as a result. Meanwhile, we…

“The right to vote is of the essence of a democratic society and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative government”, stated Justice Rehnquist, in a 1974 case defending this fundamental right  The 14^th Amendment, with four amendments, guarantees freedom from voting interference.

We have the incredible privilege to vote for our representatives in the United States unlike other places in the world, where…

I am writing in support of Gordon Page as candidate to represent District 12 in the Maine Senate.   I have known Gordon for five years while interacting with him at many different levels and within many different organizations in our midcoastal communities.  

He has the temperament, integrity, and collaborative approach required to represent ALL residents of District 12.  He knows the many issues facing Knox County well. 

He has done his homework and put in the time and energy…

As an independent-thinking Maine citizen who comes from a family dedicated to public service, I value non-partisanship, candor and getting things done. Maine’s challenges are great, and we need to make sure that our elected representatives focus on the needs of Mainers over partisanship.

I am voting for Sara Gideon because I believe that she represents the next generation of leadership in Maine and has shown us that she knows how to lead from a position of building consensus.…

If signs could vote and the election was today Molly Luce would be our next state representative. Driving around the area its clear Molly has so much local support. After all, she was born and raised right here. Her company, Safe Care, which transports special needs children, is located in Union.

They have an excellent reputation for safety and service.

I met a guy the other day who told me he had worked for Molly Luce and had been fired, but was planning to vote for her anyway…

The following is a transcript of a Friday, Oct. 22 radio address presented by Governor Janet Mills: 

Voting is at the foundation of our democracy and voting may determine the future of our communities, our state and our nation.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills.

Your vote is your voice. Make sure your voice is heard November 3rd.

I usually vote in person on Election Day cause I like to see people at the polls, but this year, I voted absentee in person…

I am writing this letter in support of Gordon Page for the Maine State Senate in District 12. Gordon is unquestionably qualified for the job. After spending decades in the private sector (something all of our elected officials should be able to say), he subsequently spent many years in the non-profit community and is a proven leader when it comes to economic development. I could go on and on about his qualifications and leadership in the community and the work that he has done for the…

Our Senatorial race is garnering national attention.  Huge amounts of money are flowing into both major campaigns.   Why?

In this, perhaps the most important election of our lifetime, the outcome of our Senatorial race can have major effects on how our nation will be governed going forward, and on the issues the government chooses to prioritize.  One issue…

The South Thomaston Clerk’s Office is offering weekend hours on Saturday, October 24, from 2 to 8 p.m., and Sunday October 25, from 2 to 7 p.m. to conduct in-person absentee voting for the November 3 election.

Voters have work schedules and various commitments that take them away from home during weekday business hours and some may rely on transportation or childcare only available on the weekend.

Voters may feel their best choice is to vote absentee, but may be usure about the…

I have a friend who bought a flooded quarry and turned it into a gorgeous lake, teaming with wildlife.  He bought an old building in Rockland on Rankin Street and is turning it into the Maine Museum of Industry.  When COVID-19 began and no one could find masks, he started a nonprofit that connected raw materials with volunteers to produce thousands of masks for Mainers in need.  Not only is he an entrepreneur himself, but he even mentors entrepreneurs without asking for anything in return.…

BELFAST — Youth from the Game Loft’s sister program, I Know ME, have launched a “Campaign for Civic Engagement” this election season. Kids from the program are creating “I voted!” pins available when people make a donation of any size to the program between now and Election Day.

Founding co-director of the program, Patricia Estabrook, had this to say, in a news release, about the initiative: “I have lived through 18 presidential elections and I have never seen one that brought out…

Valli Geiger is an exceptionally qualified, and attractive, candidate for the House District 93 seat.   She has six years of active public service and over 20 years of residency in Rockland.   Owls Head and Rockland will benefit from her election. 

By contrast, her opponent Mike Mullins’ energetic campaign for that position and sizable expenditures are excessive and don’t ring true.  His recent support of right-wing Republican candidates and their Trumpian agendas opposing women’s…

Don’t want to face the crowds at polling places on November 3 in order to vote? Your two choices are to vote early (up to October 30 in person at your municipal office) or to vote by mail. Given this unprecedented time when COVID-19 will be requiring social distancing at the polls and limitations on how many people can be inside their municipal offices at…

Let's be honest. We Mainers really love our state. From the dramatic change of seasons to our incredible wildlife, from our amazing lakes to our beautiful coast - Maine isn't just where we have chosen to live, it's what we have chosen to love.

A big part of being a Mainer is knowing the history of this state. From the native Americans fishing and trapping, to today's mining and tourism industries, Maine has seen a lot of industrial changes. Curious, isn't it, that no one thought to…

As an aide at the State House for the past two legislative sessions, I worked closely with four state senators, and your senator, Dave Miramant, was one of them. If you want a senator who delivers tangible results for folks across Knox County, re-elect Dave in the upcoming election. 

During the last two legislative sessions, Dave worked with Republicans, Democrats, and independents to pass new laws that lowered property taxes, reined in the cost of prescription…

To say this year has been abnormal is the understatement of the decade. It’s easy to see all the ways this pandemic has been difficult. It was a trying time for many reasons with uncertainty, frustration, and fear. As the months have passed, I’ve tried to balance the difficulties by reflecting on opportunistic benefits. One notable silver lining was getting to spend two months during the pandemic in the Midcoast, a rare sustained period with my parents as an adult after a decade…