What You're Voting For

BARE BONES EXPLANATIONS OF MDI, TRENTON, AND OTHER BALLOTS

Nov 01, 2024

AUGUSTA AND MDI—The election that’s fast approaching involves contests on local, state, and federal levels. The November 5 ballot features multiple statewide referendum questions.

Question 1

”Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?”

If approved, this questions would change campaign finance law. According to the Bangor Daily News, current law “allows for unlimited contributions to groups that make independent expenditures. It is backed by EqualCitizens.US, a group founded by liberal Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig.

“He pitches it as a narrowly crafted way to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2010 decision that struck down contribution limits on these groups. However, the Massachusetts attorney general declined to put a similar question on the ballot, saying it is unconstitutional. That led the conservative Maine Policy Institute to argue it will likely never be implemented.”

Question 2

”Do you favor a bond issue of $25 million to provide funds, to be awarded through a competitive process and to leverage matching private and federal funds on at least a one-to-one basis, for research and development and commercialization for Maine-based public and private institutions in support of technological innovation in the targeted sectors of life sciences and biomedical technology, environmental and renewable energy technology, information technology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, composites and advanced materials and precision manufacturing?”

This would allow funding of emerging technologies.

Question 3:

”Do you favor a $10 million bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds being issued contingent on a 25 percent local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?”

A recent state plan found that the preservation of historic buildings were challenged by the state’s failure to consistently fund the state programs that currently exist. The impetus for this bond is to rectify that.

Question 4:

”Do you favor a $30 million bond issue to invest in the design, development and maintenance for nonmotorized, motorized and multi-use trails statewide, to be matched by at least $3 million in private and public contributions?”

The Bangor Daily News writes, “This bond was backed by environmental groups and municipalities to support a diverse range of trails from hiking to ATVing and snowmobiling. It is still opposed by passenger rail advocates who see trails as subsuming networks that could be put back on line.”

Question 5:

“Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the official flag of the State in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the official flag of the State?”

Voting yes replaces the current flag with the blue background with the beige flag. Voting no keeps the current flag.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

The candidates for president on the ballot are Kamala Harris, Democrat; Donald Trump, Republican; Cornel West, independent; Jill Stein, Green Party; Chase Oliver, Libertarian.

U.S. SENATE

Angus King (Incumbent, independent, Brunswick) faces Demi Kouzounas (Republican, Saco) and David Costello (Democrat, Brunswick).

SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Jared Golden (Incumbent, Democrat, Lewiston) faces Austin Theriault (Republican, Fort Kent)

MAINE STATE SENATE DISTRICT 7

Nicole Grohoski (D, Ellsworth, incumbent) faces Sherman Hutchings (R, Penobscot)

HANCOCK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RACE

Paul Paradis (R, incumbent, Bar Harbor) faces Samuel DiBella (D, Hancock)

District 3 includes Franklin, Hancock, Lamoine, Trenton, Bar Harbor, Mt. Desert, Tremont, Southwest Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Swan’s Island, and Frenchboro.

MAINE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - DISTRICT 14

Gary Friedmann (D, Bar Harbor) faces Sandra Gray (R, Lamoine) For Lynne Williams (D, Bar Harbor)

District 14 includes the following towns:

Bar Harbor
Cranberry Isles
Lamoine
Mount Desert

Lynne Williams (D) of Bar Harbor last held the position.

MAINE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 15

Holly Eaton (D, Deer Isle, incumbent) faces Jason Joyce (Swan’s Island, independent)

The district includes :

Brooklin
Deer Isle
Eagle Island Township
Frenchboro
Isle au Haut
Marshall Island
Southwest Habor
Stonington
Swan's Island
Tremont
Vinalhaven

BAR HARBOR

When voters go into the booth in Bar Harbor, they’ll also be voting on several articles, including one on cruise ships.

This is a quick explanation of the Bar Harbor measures and also sample ballots for Bar Harbor and other towns.

Bar Harbor’s polling place is the Municipal Building Auditorium, 93 Cottage St, third floor. Voting occurs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 5.

ARTICLE 1 – MODERATOR ELECTION

This elects a moderator for the town meeting.

ARTICLE 2 – AMENDMENT OF THE HIGGINS PIT SOLAR ARRAY BOND-IMPROVEMENTS TO TOWN-OWNED PROPERTIES

This article determines whether or not the town reallocates a previously approved $4.25 million bond that had been meant for the Higgins Pit Solar Array project.
The original bond was approved in June 2022 by voters. It was meant to construct a solar farm on Higgins Pit. The costs were then deemed too high due to right of way issues to the site and other impacts such as connection fees, timing issues, and environmental factors.

Because the bond already was approved and taken out and must be used within the next few months, the Town Manager James Smith recommended using the money on town-owned properties in ways that are meant to meet climate goals that are similar to the project.

Voting yes means that the town can reallocate the money toward other energy efficient “green energy” projects. Voting no would reject that measure, but maroon the funds.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Town Council recommends 7-0.

Warrant Committee recommends 13-0.

Full text of bond amendment article.

ARTICLE 3 - TRANSIENT LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS

This article asks whether or not the number of transient lodging uses and definitions be reduced from 19 to seven as well as modify multiple standards that are connected to lodging uses.

The amendment is meant to simplify the town’s land use ordinance dealing with transient accommodations. It not only decreases the definitions; it also updates parking standards and requirements for the uses. Part of that simplification is a redefinition of those terms.

The amendment no longer uses terms like “bed and breakfast” but instead separates the sections into smaller and larger establishments.

It also

Modifies “nonconforming provisions to reflect new lodging uses;”
Adjusts “relevant general review standards for parking and loading requirements;”
Removes “general review standards for cabins and cottages;”
Replaces “existing lodging use references with new use references in Article XIII Design Review;”
Requires “minimum parking standards for all transient lodging accommodation uses;”
Requires “site plan approval or conditional use approval for all transient lodging accommodation uses;”
Amends “Article III to replace existing transient accommodation uses with the new lodging uses.”

Voting yes allows the changes. Voting no keeps the ordinance as is.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Planning Board recommends 6-0.

Warrant Committee recommends 13-0.

Full text on the town’s Land Use Information page.

ARTICLE 4 - CRUISE SHIPS

This article would repeal the current cruise ship ordinance and allow the Town Council to put in place a new set of limitation rules.

In 2022, voters approved 1,000-a-day cruise ship disembarkation limits. After the approval, the changes were subject to a federal lawsuit, an ongoing federal appeal of the decision of that case, and then lawsuits over the enforcement.

The plan proposed by the Town Council if the current 1,000-daily cap is repealed would create a 3,200 daily cap (based on lower berth capacity), and monthly caps of 55,000 in September and October, as well as 20,000 monthly caps from May through August. It also creates 10 cruise-ship-free days in September and October, and the town council has said it anticipates even more cruise-ship-free days each month in the spring and summer season. That plan has been agreed to by the tendering facility as well as the cruise lines.

The amendment would repeal § 125-77 H.

A yes vote would repeal the current rules so that the town council could proceed with the other plan, which involves contracts already agreed to by cruise lines and the tendering facility. A no vote would keep the current rules in place.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Planning Board recommends 4-2.

Warrant Committee recommends 11-2.

For more information on Chapter 50 and cruise ship management, see the Cruise Ship Information page.

ARTICLE 5 - FILING AND APPROVALS

This article simply changes the requirement of sending all land use ordinance amendments to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection rather than just shoreland zoning related amendments. Similarly, it would no longer require amendments be sent to the Hancock County Registry of Deeds.

A yes vote would change these requirements. A no vote would keep them the same.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Planning Board recommends 6-0.

Warrant Committee recommends 13-0.

Full text on the town’s Land Use Information page.

ARTICLE 6 – FILING HARD COPIES

This amendment would decrease the amount of hard copies of appeals given to the Bar Harbor Appeals Board from 12 to 10.

A yes vote would decrease that number. A no vote would keep it the same.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Planning Board recommends 6-0.

Warrant Committee recommends 13-0.

Full text on the town’s Land Use Information page.

BAR HARBOR SAMPLE TOWN BALLOT

MOUNT DESERT

The polling place for the Town of Mount Desert is Town Hall, 21 Sea Street, Northeast Harbor.

TRENTON

The polling place for Trenton is the town office. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The town office is located at 59 Oak Point Road, Trenton.

TREMONT

The polling place for Tremont is the Harvey Kelley meeting room at 20 Harbor Drive, Bass Harbor. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

SOUTHWEST HARBOR

The polling place for Southwest Harbor is the Southwest Harbor Fire Department at 250 Main St, Southwest Harbor. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.