ORONO, Maine — Voters elected two newcomers, one to the school board and one to the Town Council, during Tuesday’s local election, according to unofficial results provided Wednesday by the town clerk. Also, an incumbent was re-elected to the council.
Michelle K. Smith, a University of Maine School of Biology and Ecology professor and member of the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education, received 307 votes to defeat former school board member Frances M. Neubauer, who tallied 105 votes, for the single open Regional School Unit 26 board seat.
Incumbent Councilor Thomas L. Spitz, who has a dozen years on the panel, tallied 344 votes to be re-elected to his seat and will be joined by newcomer Clint Relyea, who received 287 votes. Local resident Daniel R. LaPointe came in third with 87 votes.
Residents also voted in a local referendum that asked if newly elected school board members should be sworn in at the first meeting after the local election and be allowed to vote at that first meeting, supporting the measure by a 373-21 vote.
The Town Council is now tasked with selecting someone to fill the seat of Shari Kinnison, who resigned from the school board and has one year remaining on her term. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday to the Town of Orono, 59 Main St., Orono, Maine.
Applications are available online at orono.org or at the town office.
Candidate interviews will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10.