Bangor council slate shapes up 7 residents take out nomination papers; 4 are under age of 23

BANGOR – As of Wednesday afternoon, seven people have taken out nomination papers needed to run for one of three open seats on the City Council.

Two incumbents – City Councilors Frank Farrington, 61, and Dan Tremble, 42, – have started to gather the needed 150 signatures to place their names on the November ballot in an effort to retain their seats.

The third incumbent, City Councilor Joseph Baldacci, is prevented from seeking re-election because of term limits.

The seven potential candidates have until Sept. 6 to return the needed signatures to qualify for the ballot.

John H. Cashwell III, the 54-year-old president of the Bangor-based Seven Islands Land Co., took his papers out Wednesday morning.

This year’s council race has also attracted some young potential candidates, four of whom are under the age of 22.

One of those candidates, 19-year-old Yusfif A. Rishani of Grove Street, said Wednesday the time was right for his candidacy.

“I’ve always been interested in politics, and this is a good place to start,” said Rishani, a 2001 Bangor High School graduate.

Torvic Vardamis, 22, is also considering a second run for a seat on the nine-member council. Vardamis, a Davis Road resident, placed fifth in his first run with 960 votes in an eight-way race in 2001.

James Gilks, 21, of Moosehead Boulevard, and Brian Lindsay, 22, of Nash Street have also taken out nomination papers.

If one of the four were to earn a seat on the council, he would become the youngest councilor in at least the last 30 years.

Patricia Finnegan was 23 when she was first elected to the council in 1976. Three years later, now-U.S. Rep. John Baldacci – who is also running for governor – won his first council bid at age 24.

Nomination papers are still available at the City Clerk’s Office on the first floor of City Hall.