A Clifford Street resident has been nominated to fill the vacant District 3 seat on the South Portland Board of Education.

At the City Council meeting tonight, Monday, Nov. 16, the council is expected to vote on the nomination of Jerald McQueeney to the seat formerly held by Michael Eastman.

McQueeney, of 114 Clifford St., said he did not want to say much prior to the council’s vote tonight. But he said he’s married with two young children in the South Portland schools. He said he has not held elective office before, but put his name forward to fill the vacancy because of his interest in promoting good education in the city schools.

Eastman, a former longtime assistant principal at Memorial Middle School, had been running unopposed for re-election to the seat, but died unexpectedly in September. His name remained on the ballot, however, and he received 7,302 votes. Write-in candidates received only a total of 248 votes, not enough to best his tally.

In that case, City Clerk Susan Mooney has said,

the city charter gives the City Council the authority to declare a vacancy in the seat and appoint someone to serve until the next general election, which will be in November 2010.

Mayor Tom Blake has said Board of Education and school officials would put forward a name to the council.

Linda Eastman, Michael Eastman’s wife and also a former longtime educator, initially was offered the seat. However, Linda Eastman said last week that she declined because it is still too close to her husband’s death.

Copy the Story Link