HOULTON, Maine — The political stage has been set for this November’s election to the Houlton Town Council, RSU 29 School Board and other municipal offices.
Friday was the deadline to submit nomination papers to be placed on the November ballot and Houlton town clerks reviewed those forms Monday before announcing the final candidate list. The order in which the candidates’ names will appear on the ballot will be determined by a random draw, according to the town charter.
Five individuals are seeking three available seats on the Houlton Town Council. Paul Cleary, Sue Tortello and Robbie Hannigan currently hold those seats. Hannigan opted not to seek re-election at the completion of his first term. Tortello is unable to run again due to the council’s term limits policy which states a councilor may only serve two consecutive, three-year terms. In order to run again, an individual must take two full years off from serving on the council.
The five candidates seeking three available three-year seats on the council are Matthew Carr, Cleary, Brent Dickison, Brian Donnelly and Jane Torres.
Cleary is currently serving as the council chairman. He has served multiple times over the years (1999-2002, 2003-06, 2006-09 and 2011-present.) Donnelly served on the council from 2008-10.
Torres is the executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. Carr is the owner of Houlton Stamp and Coin and Dickison works in construction.
Four individuals are seeking three open seats on the RSU 29 school board. One of the available seats is currently empty after John Tribou resigned. Rosa McNally was appointed to the board by the Houlton Town Council to fill an unexpired term previously held by Cynthia Hillman Forbush. Liz Anderson has opted not to seek re-election to the board. RSU 29 does not have a term limits policy.
The four candidates for the three open three-year terms are: Susan McLaughlin, McNally, Tortello and Darryl Scott White.
There are three, three-year seats available on the town’s Board of Budget Review committee, but only one individual, Gerard Berthelette, returned his papers. There are also two, two-year terms on the budget committee, with McNally being the only individual to return papers.
Two, three-year seats are up for grabs on the Houlton Water Company’s board of directors. Richard Goodwin and Galen Hogan are seeking those seats.
The Cary Library Trustees have one, five-year seat available with two candidates — Forrest Barnes and Charlotte MacArthur.
