Dismal voter turnout OKs staggered implementation of 5-member selectboard

Corinna Cole (Courtesy photo)

LEBANON, Maine - A Special Election to determine the implementation of the town's newly increased five-person selectboard was held on Wednesday, with less than 100 residents showing up to vote during polling hours.

The vote, which asked residents to approve a staggered election process in which the two new selectboard members would be vying for one two-year and one three-year slot, passed by a 104-32 vote, with one ballot left blank.

If the measure had been defeated both new selectboard members would've been voted in for three-year terms, causing a three-member turnover every third year.

One longtime resident said Wednesday's turnout was the lowest ever for a Lebanon town vote.

The polls, which were open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., saw just 97 turnout to vote; another 40 voted by absentee ballot accounting for the final vote total.

"I'm just happy with it going forward," said Corinna Cole, who spearheaded the citizen's petition calling for the five-member board, which had previously been a three-member panel.