Five newly elected Houlton Town Council members took the helm on Wednesday during the Aroostook town’s annual operational meeting.
In recent years, Houlton has struggled to attract candidates for the seven-member council, with most races uncontested. But this year’s midterm election drew eight candidates for five open seats.
Incumbent councilors Sue Tortello, John “J.J.” Schools and Fred Grant were reelected. Challengers Darryl Scott White and Chris Robinson were also elected. Incumbent Grant led the pack with 1,766 votes, followed by Schools with 1,437, Tortello with 1,333, White 1,025 and Robinson with 131.
On Wednesday, the town’s leadership transferred to the new councilors, who were sworn into office by Town Clerk Khylee Wampler.
Robinson was elected chairman.
Prior to Tuesday’s midterm election, Robinson said he wanted to bring a business focus to the council and continue the work he had started as chairman.
“I thought I was fairly effective the last time I was a councilor and chair and because of that I thought I could do it again,” Robinson said in a previous interview. “There were some key deciding votes I made as chair.”
Also on Wednesday, the council confirmed Town Manager Amber Jones’ appointment of several municipal employees including Khylee Wampler as town clerk, election warden, deputy treasurer and deputy tax collector; Tamara Merritt as deputy clerk and deputy election warden; Emily Crofoot as treasurer and finance director; Emily Mills as tax collector and general assistance administrator; and Theresa L. Duff as assessor.
Jones was appointed public information officer and the firm of Severson, Hand, and Nelson as the town attorney.
Attorney Dan Nelson shared information with the town council about open records and public information law. He reminded council members that all communication with the town or town officials, whether by phone, email or in-person, is public record.
“Everything we do is public with a few minor exceptions and it’s important that we let the public know what we are doing,” Nelson said. “People are entitled to it.”
Houlton voter turnout on Tuesday surpassed expectations, with 200 votes cast within the first two hours, according to Wampler. By 3:37 p.m. 1,000 had voted in person and 769 absentee ballots had been processed out of 3,549 registered voters, Wampler said.
Additionally, residents who hadn’t voted for several years re-registered on Tuesday.
