Sample Ballots for 2012 General Election

Sample ballots for November’s general election are now available on the Brunswick Town Clerk’s web site.

1. State Referendum Questions

All Brunswick voters will see the same five state referendum questions.

• State Referendum Ballot

2. Federal, State and County Candidates

Brunswick is divided into three different Maine House districts for electing a Representative to the Legislature. Depending on which part of Brunswick you live in, you will see different choices for your candidates for Representative to the Legislature. All of the other federal, state and county candidates on the ballot are the same for all Brunswick voters.

• State Representative District 63 (east Brunswick)
• State Representative District 65 (south Brunswick)
• State Representative District 66 (north Brunswick)

3. Local Candidates for Town Council and School Board

Brunswick is divided into seven local districts (also called “wards”) for town council and school board. All Brunswick voters will see at-large candidates for town council and school board. Voters in local districts 3 and 4 will see additional candidates running to represent their districts on the town council and school board.

• Districts (Wards) 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
• District (Ward) 3
• District (Ward) 4

Town elections

This courtesy town councilor Benet Pols:

Town Elections, Council and School Board.

The at-large council seat held by Joanne King is open. Joanne has decided not to seek re-election this fall.

In addition the following seats are also up election, though I don’t know if the current incumbents have decided whether or not to run,

Town council:
District 3 (Suzan Wilson)
District 4 (John Perreault)

School Board:
At-large (Michelle Small)
District 3 (Matt Corey)
District 4 (Corey Perreault)

Candidates need 25 signatures from registered voters in their district; if at-large, 100 signatures of registered voters from anywhere in town. Nominating papers are due back at town hall by September 7th.

Hiatus Due to District 66 Race

Since I’m currently running for Maine House District 66 in addition to being the main contributor and editor here, in the interest of political objectivity I thought it would be best to take a hiatus during the campaign.

I will maintain our existing pages to provide voter education and help people find information about their elected government, but I don’t plan to report political news or events.

After the campaign I hope to find a person or two who might like to help me maintain this site.

That’s all for now!
-Fred Horch

Public Forums in Senate District 10

State District 10 Senator Stan Gerzofsky, representing Pownal, Brunswick and Freeport, has announced the following public forums:

Public Forums in Senate District 10 Continue

The forums will be open to anyone who would like to attend. I always value any feedback from those who I am elected to represent. The public forums are scheduled as follows:

POWNAL
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Mallett Hall, 429 Hallowell Road 

 BRUNSWICK
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant Street

FREEPORT
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 *(please note this new date)
Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive

 All forums will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

School budget referendum

The school budget referendum question reads

Do you favor approving the Town of Brunswick school budget for the upcoming school year that was adopted at the Brunswick Town Council meeting held May 31, 2012?

As reported in the Times Record (“Council approves $54.6M budget“), on May 31 the Town Council approved the school board’s $33,491,029 budget, which is 0.5 percent more than last year’s.

Due to declining enrollments, an increase in expected ability to pay for education, and other factors, Brunswick schools lost $2.4 million in state and federal funds this year.

To make up for the lost funding, Brunswick’s local property tax rate would need to rise by 5.45%, from $23.68 to $24.97 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. (Note: while Brunswick’s mill rate is currently 23.68, our assessment ratio is just 66%, which is below the 70% minimum ratio required by MRSA Title 36, section 327: Minimum assessing standards.)

More details about the 2012-2013 school budget is available in the notes for the May 3 school budget presentation to the town council.

Primary Election – Tuesday June 12

All voting is at the Brunswick Junior High School, 65 Columbia Avenue. Polls are open 7 am to 8 pm on Tuesday, June 12. For more information call the Brunswick Town Clerk’s office at 725-6658.

The election will determine

1. the candidates for fall’s general election, and
2. whether voters approve the Brunswick school budget

Sample ballots are available online.

School Facilities Survey

According to a recent post by school board vice chair Corinne Perreault, the Brunswick School Board is entertaining two options for the K-2 Facilities Plan.

1. Two K-2 elementary schools: Coffin, Jordan Acres
2. One elementary school: Coffin

An online survey is being conducted to determine residents’ preference. The deadline for submitting a response is noon on May 29, 2012.

You can indicate your preference for consideration at this web site:

http://www1.brunswick.k12.me.us/bjh/survey/k-2-facilities-survey/facilities.htm

For background information about the Brunswick school facilities, and the recommendations from a hired consultant leading to the two options included in the survey, the following documents are available on the school department’s web site:

• Facility Master Plan Study – Introduction
• Summary and Recommendations