LEWISTON — Voters put three Maine People’s Alliance candidates and three conservative candidates into the seven open City Council seats Tuesday night.
Joline Landry Beam, who beat two opponents to claim the open Ward 6 seat, said she might be the swing vote.
“I think I can work with anyone,” Beam said Tuesday. “I think that’s what it’s about — being open to ideas.”
In Ward 1, Maine People’s Alliance-supported candidate Jim Lysen defeated incumbent Leslie Dubois, 618-514.
Ward 5 Councilor Kristen Cloutier, who was supported by the Maine People’s Alliance, defeated challenger Blaine Linton, 531-139 votes.
And in Ward 3, Maine People’s Alliance-supported Isobel Moiles was unopposed and collected 589 votes.
In Ward 4, conservative Councilor Shane Bouchard was unchallenged and collected 1,062 votes.
In Ward 7, conservative Councilor Mike Lachance defeated Maine People’s Alliance-supported challenger Kristine Kittridge, 800-468 votes.
And in Ward 2, conservative Tim Lajoie easily defeated Marc Roy 1,169 votes to 332.
“I can’t speak to any of the other six wards, but I can for Ward 2,” Lajoie said. “The voters in Ward 2 voted for a blue-collar conservative — and that’s what they’re going to get.”
But Lajoie said it was too soon for him to start talking about city policy.
“I need to sit down with the others and start talking about what we’re going to do,” Lajoie said.
In Ward 5, Councilor Cloutier said a balanced council could work out quite well.
“Balance can be really great — or not,” she said. “I think a balance is actually really good, and I’m just excited to serve for a second term.”
The councilors and new mayor will be sworn into office in January.
Cloutier said she expects they’ll vote on a new comprehensive plan and should settle the matter of paid trash collection. Candidates on the right and left, including mayoral candidate Ben Chin, have come out against that idea.
“I don’t know what the other folks would think, but I can imagine getting to a place where it goes out to voters,” Cloutier said. “But if we get to one meeting and decide it just won’t, we can just cancel the public education portion of it.”
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