Man disrupts Palmyra vote with fliers

PALMYRA – Voting at Palmyra became a little complicated Tuesday morning when a resident came inside the town hall intending to pass out fliers. Later, two incumbents were re-elected as selectmen.

Carlton Preble was asked to go outside by Town Clerk Joan Bradley, who said he went outside without a problem. Later, a resident irked by Preble’s actions called the Maine State Police.

Trooper Christopher Carr said he asked Preble to leave and he left without incident. Carr said anyone with political propaganda must be at least 250 feet from the polling place.

Preble’s flier was addressed “To all Palmyra voters,” and said, “Vote ‘No’ on SAD 48 school budget #6; Vote for school board member Gary Weeks; Vote for selectman Danny Sprague; and Vote for selectman (write-in candidate) Sandy Quimby.”

Later in the afternoon, however, Preble returned and was again handing out fliers. Witnesses said he stood close to the door.

When notified at his home that Preble was back at the polls, Palmyra Selectman Dan Sprague told the town clerk to ask him to leave and if he refused, to call the police. Sprague himself notified the state police again about 6 p.m. Preble was again asked to leave. He was not charged or summoned.

When the polls closed, Palmyra voters joined the other six SAD48 towns in defeating the school board’s proposed $16.8 million budget. In local elections, incumbent selectmen Weeks and Daniel Sprague were re-elected and Gareth Weeks, the only SAD 48 candidate, was voted in.

The total votes received were: Sheila Later, 237; Sprague, 290; Sandy Quimby, 91 write-in votes; and Weeks, 324.

Town Clerk Joan Bradley said a total of 420 residents voted.