Newcomer wins Lee selectman’s post

LEE – Residents elected a new selectmen, passed a $243,938 municipal budget and reaffirmed their incumbent SAD 30 representatives Monday night during their annual town meeting.

Newcomer Kirk Ritchie defeated Selectman Robert House 84-56, to assume his first political office, Town Clerk Nancy Noyes said.

Noyes was renamed clerk after running unopposed.

House said he didn’t mind the defeat.

“I was glad it happened,” House said Tuesday. “I really didn’t want another term, so it worked out good for me.”

Not that he regrets having been a selectman for his three-year term, he said.

“It was a new experience for me, and I learned a lot about town government that I didn’t know,” said House, a janitor at Mount Jefferson Junior High School. “It was a good learning experience for me, and in some ways enjoyable.”

Ritchie said he was excited to have won the first selectman’s position.

“This is my first venture into politics, local or otherwise, so I’m a little nervous,” he said. “I am new to the game and learning on the fly here, so I can’t speak about specific issues yet.”

Ritchie, 44, has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Joseph’s College in Standish and 20 years’ experience running small businesses in southern Maine. He has lived in Lee for 15 years.

The meeting was held at the high school. About 30 residents attended.

Ann MacDonald was named to represent Lee on the SAD 30 board after garnering 26 votes. Yvonne Albert filled the second position with 23 votes.

Residents passed without alteration 54 of the 55 warrants within the $243,938 budget. They added $1,000 to a Lee Volunteer Fire Department account, Noyes said.