Last Friday’s local elections in Raymond drew a moderate crowd to the polls at Jordan Small Middle School. More than 500 voters cast their ballots for School Board and Board of Selectmen positions leading to a few close calls and decisive victories for several Raymond candidates.
Board of Selectmen
Joseph Bruno, former minority leader of the state House of Representatives, unseated incumbent Betty McDermott for the Raymond Board of Selectmen by a margin of 112 votes (310 to 198).
After a two-year hiatus from public service, the former Republican representative said he decided to run for town government so he could use the knowledge he learned in Augusta to help the town of Raymond.
“I’m happy with the faith that people have put in me,” Bruno said. “I’m really humbled by the vote.”
As a selectman, Bruno vows to be proactive in keeping tabs on town business and current issues while planning for the future. He plans to weigh the priorities of the town with fiscal restraint on spending.
“I’m never one to believe that you can run a town like a business,” Bruno said. “But I do think there are management tools that can be used.”
Betty McDermott said she’s enjoyed her nine years as a selectman and will now dedicate her time to travel, gardening and volunteering with the Lions Club.
She’s proud of her legacy on the board and her work to bring public water, affordable senior housing and road improvements to town. McDermott wishes her successor the best.
“(Bruno) was very popular in Augusta,” McDermott said. “I’m sure he’ll do a good job. He’s working with some great people.”
McDermott said she does not plan to run again for Board of Selectmen, but will continue to be involved in other ways around town.
School Board
In the race for two seats on the School Board, incumbent Lisa Friedlander (231 votes) and Wendy Trask (191 votes) defeated Gail Cole (186 votes), Sasha Rancourt-Thomas (144 votes) and Kerry Ann Sullivan (134 votes).
Incumbent Friedlander, who garnered the most votes, has served on the board for one term.
“I’m glad that the voters had enough confidence in me to re-elect me,” Friedlander said. “I look forward to another three years.”
Friedlander said she’s dedicated to continuing the “One Raymond” philosophy: the sharing of staff and facilities by both town government and school department so as to save taxpayers money.
Trask and Cole went neck-and-neck at the polls with Trask winning by a margin of five votes.
Trask filled an interim position on the board when School Board member Frank Dexter left in January.
“I was quite proud,” Trask said. “I didn’t know a lot of people in town, but I do have children in the school system. I was glad to see that a group of my peers have looked at me and seen that I’m trying to make a difference.”
Trask aims to take a hard look at the school budget. She would like to move away from pouring money into maintenance costs and put money back in the classroom. She also hopes to serve as liaison for the community and school staff to address grievances that they might be afraid of broaching with school administration.
Cole, who lost by a slim margin, said she may run for School Board next year. She decided to campaign for the School Board position to get directly involved in the education of Raymond children.
“The more people who are involved, the better things are going to be,” she said. “The better for the community and the kids.”
Jerilyn Ward, lone candidate for the Budget/Finance Committee, won the seat with 388 votes. Susan Accardi of Deep Cove Shores (45 votes) and Robert Gosselin of Plains Road (40 votes) won the two other open seats on the board through write-in nomination. Town officials will ask Accardi and Gosselin if they would like to serve on the finance board, which oversees the town’s budget process.
Raymond voter Brenda Stevenson casts her ballot last Friday at the polls in Jordan Small Middle School for local elections.Send questions/comments to the editors.
