Student wins Lincoln council seat by one vote

LINCOLN – By one vote, an 18-year-old high school senior edged out an incumbent in the Lincoln Town Council race during Tuesday’s elections.

Voters elected Samuel Clay, a student at Mattanawcook Academy, by a vote of 366 to 365 over incumbent James Libby. Voters also re-elected Samuel’s older brother Stephen Clay and Jeff Gifford to the Town Council for three-year terms. Gifford had 571 votes. Stephen Clay had 563. Alan Grant, who withdrew from the race, had 256 votes.

At press time, Libby said he had no plans to request a recount. “I feel the town is in good shape and I’m proud to have been part of it,” he said.

“I’m doing great,” said an excited Samuel Clay during an interview Tuesday night. “Thank you to God and thank you to the town. Now, I truly know the meaning of every vote counts.”

The high school student said he was not surprised by the election results. Earlier, he said his goal was to be the youngest person elected to the council.

Clay said he would work hard to balance his schoolwork with the work he will have to do for the town. “I don’t think it will be too much of a problem,” he said. “The classes I’m taking right now don’t really give out a lot of homework. I have study halls. Of course, schoolwork is always going to come first, but I will try my hardest to balance it out.”

Voters also re-elected Sarah Crockett, David Edwards and Mary Hawkes to the SAD 67 school board for three-year terms. Election results are: Crockett, 638; Edwards, 530; Hawkes, 618; and Ralph Lichtenberg, 357.

Mary Smart with 688 votes and Jane Theoharides with 694 votes were re-elected to three-year terms on the Lincoln Sanitary District board of trustees.

Hervey Clay was re-elected to a three-year term on the Hospital Administrative District No. 1 board of directors with 739 votes. Although Clay was elected to a three-year term, it will expire when the district reorganizes into a nonprofit corporation later this year.

The voter turnout during Tuesday’s municipal elections was low. A total of 794 ballots were cast. The town has more than 3,500 registered voters.

Residents gave the Town Council the green light to spend up to $150,000 for the purchase of a new firetruck.

Town Manager Glen Aho said the firetruck purchase would be considered by the council no later than its December meeting. He hopes the town will receive the new truck by next spring.

Voters authorized the council to enter into a lease agreement for the purchase of a firetruck by a vote of 557 to 217. The town’s charter requires the council to seek voter approval for all purchases exceeding $100,000.

Officials estimate the annual lease payment will be $29,500, which is nearly the same amount the town would put away as part of its five-year capital improvement plan.

The new firetruck will replace a 1980 pumper truck, which is one of the oldest trucks in the department.

Residents approved two changes to the town’s charter. The turnout was sufficient to meet the 486-vote minimum requirement to implement the changes.

By a vote of 605 to 151, the town’s charter will be changed, deleting references about electing representatives to the Hospital Administrative District No. 1. The hospital district is expected to reorganize into a nonprofit organization late this year. After reorganization, hospital board members will no longer be elected by member towns.

By a vote of 647 to 114, language was added to the town’s charter requiring members of the Lincoln Sanitary District board of trustees be residents of the town.