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Belfast voters decided not to return two of the city’s longest-serving city councilors to their seats Tuesday.
Mary Mortier, a realtor who has represented the city’s first ward in its southern portion since 2012, lost to challenger Caitlin Hills 1,178 votes to 1,860, according to unofficial election results. Hills is the former chair of the area’s public school board.
Neal Harkness lost the seat he had held since 2014 to represent neighboring Ward 2 against newcomer Zachary Schmesser, former executive director of economic development group Our Town Belfast. Harkness earned 1,250 votes to Schmesser’s 1,830.
Both newcomers’ campaigns prioritized more proactive and transparent communication of city business, while incumbents argued their experience benefits the council.
Two of the candidates have also come under public scrutiny in recent years. Hills resigned from the RSU 71 school board six years ago after drawing heat over Facebook posts she made about supporters of President Donald Trump that included profanity.
Harkness has drawn attention in recent months for not publicly disclosing that he has rented a home from City Manager Erin Herbig’s parents since 2021. He acknowledged that could look like a conflict of interest but said it is not one, according to the Midcoast Villager. The arrangement was first reported by The Belfast Maine Conversation blog.
A third seat on the council turned over in the neighborhood of East Belfast, where Paul Dean represented Ward 5 for eight years. He did not run for reelection and was replaced by Kathleen Dunckel, the only declared candidate for his seat. She won 2,494 votes.
Samantha Gehin-Scott beat Anthony Gilmore 2,095 to 658 for a three-year seat representing the city on the RSU 71 public school district board that is currently held by Sherri Klosterman, who didn’t run again.
Correction: An earlier version of this report contained inaccurate information about Schmesser’s employment. He is the former executive director of Our Town Belfast.
