LEWISTON — Candidates for county offices, including a 13-way contest for six Charter Commission seats in Androscoggin County, will take up a share of the Nov. 2 ballot.
However, for voters in the tri-county area, there will be more unopposed candidates than heated contests. For instance, Androscoggin and Oxford county voters will have only one sheriff candidate to choose for each county: Guy Desjardins in Androscoggin and Wayne Gallant in Oxford. And voters in Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties will have only one candidate on the ballot for district attorney: Norman Croteau.
In Androscoggin County, the nonpartisan Charter Commission has drawn the most candidates. County Commission Chairman Randy Greenwood has described them as “the founding fathers for a new county government.”
The 13 candidates for the six volunteer positions include former state Reps. Stavros Mendros and Scott Lansley, Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce Director Chip Morrison, former Auburn City Councilor Robert Mennealy and former County Commissioner Helen Poulin, among others.
One write-in candidate, James Chaousis of Livermore, withdrew his candidacy on Tuesday. Chaousis, the Livermore Falls town manager, is leaving his position to accept the town manager’s job in Boothbay.
The only partisan race in Androscoggin County is for register of probate. Incumbent Joshua Klein-Golden, a Democrat, will be challenged by Republican Wendy Sanborn, chairwoman of the Poland Board of Selectmen.
In each of the six unopposed Androscoggin County races, the candidates are Democrats.
“I’m sorry to say that Republicans have been asleep at the wheel,” Greenwood said Tuesday. Greenwood, a Republican, said his party has historically done too little to forward candidates.
In Oxford and Franklin counties, the ballots seem less one-sided.
In Oxford County, voters will be asked to choose from candidates for County Commission, treasurer and register of deeds.
Republican Caldwell Jackson is facing challenger Robert Kirchherr, a Democrat, for the commission’s District 3 seat.
Democrat Roy Gedat will compete with independent William Hine for the role of treasurer and Republican Marjorie Risica will face Democrat Patricia Shearman for the register of deed’s seat at the Paris registry.
In Franklin County, voters will be asked to choose from candidates for treasurer and County Commission.
For treasurer, Republican Mary Frank will face Democrat Pamela Prodan.
For County Commission, Democrat Richard Stovall will face Republican Clyde Barker.
dhartill@sunjournal.com
Androscoggin County
Sheriff
Guy Desjardins (D) unopposed
County Commission
Elaine Makas (D) unopposed
District Attorney
Norman Croteau (D) unopposed
Judge of Probate
Robert Couturier (D) unopposed
Register of Probate
Joshua Klein-Golden (D) incumbent
Wendy Sanborn (R)
County Treasurer
Robert Poulin (D) unopposed
Register of Deeds
Tina Chouinard (D) unopposed
Charter Commission
District 1 (all are write-ins; Durham, Greene, Leeds, Lisbon, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Sabattus, Turner and Wales)
Richard Gross, Turner
Scott Lansley, Sabattus
Deborah Moran, Greene
District 2 (Auburn, Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland)
James Bradley, Mechanic Falls
Robert Mennealy, Auburn
Charles Morrison, Auburn
George Sanborn, Poland
James Walker, Auburn
District 3 (Lewiston)
Richard Grandmaison
Michael Marcotte
Stavros Mendros
Helen Poulin
Christopher Rushton
Franklin County
Judge of Probate
Richard Morton (R) unopposed
County Treasurer
Mary Frank (R)
Pamela Prodan (D)
County Commission
Clyde Barker (R)
Richard Stovall (D)
Register of Deeds
Susan Black (R) unopposed
Oxford County
Sheriff
Wayne Gallant (D) unopposed
County Commission (both in District 3)
Caldwell Jackson (R)
Robert Kirchherr (D)
County Treasurer
Roy Gedat (D)
William Hine (I)
Register of Deeds, Paris Registry
Marjorie Risica (R)
Patricia Shearman (D)
Register of Deeds, Fryeburg Registry
Jean Watson (R) (unopposed)
Send questions/comments to the editors.
