Special school board election expected in Cape
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| Cape Elizabeth Town Clerk Debra Lane, left, works with ballot clerks Scott Berry and Margaret Davenport to tally the results of a special election to State House District 121, held Aug. 16 in the Cape Elizabeth High School cafeteria. |
CAPE ELIZABETH — The final domino appears to have tipped, following the
resignation last spring of state Sen. Larry Bliss, D-South Portland.
On May 6, Bliss’ fellow Democrat, Cynthia Dill, beat GOP
hopeful Louie Maietta, of South Portland, by a two-to-one margin, and so
ascended to Bliss’ seat in the upper legislative chamber. That opened up her
place in the lower chamber, won Aug. 16 by Democrat Kim Monaghan-Derrig, who
bested Republican Nancy Thompson – 1,340 to 1,164.
On Aug. 22, Monaghan-Derrig formally resigned her post on
the Cape Elizabeth School Board.
Per its Aug. 23 agenda, the School Board was expected to
call for a special election to fill out the last two years of Monaghan-Derrig’s
term – a power it has under the town charter whenever a board vacancy occurs
within six months of a regular municipal election.
With that in mind, the Town Council called a special
meeting for Aug. 25. The Cape Elizabeth Town Charter stipulates that candidates
for municipal office must file their nomination papers no later than 60 days
before Election Day. Maine Law says candidates shall have at least 40 days to
gather signatures, but also provides for a town or city council to reduce that
allowance to as little as 10 days.
Therefore, Town Manager Michael McGovern said he will
recommend to the council that they vote to make nomination papers available
Aug. 26 and due to the Town Clerk by end up business on Sept. 9.
As always, candidates will need to gather signatures from
at least 25, but not more than 100 registered voters in Cape Elizabeth.
Election Day is Nov. 9 and Monaghan-Derrig will continue
to serve on the School Board until her successor is sworn into office Dec. 12.
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