Four newcomers were elected to the Androscoggin County Commission on Tuesday, giving the seven-member panel four Republicans, two Democrats and one independent.
Republicans Brian Ames of Lewiston and Terri Stankiewicz of Mechanic Falls, Democrat John Butler of Lewiston, and independent John Michael of Auburn won seats, as did incumbent Sally Christner, a Republican from Turner.
They join Democrat Noel Madore of Lewiston and Republican Isaiah Lary of Wales.
The results of the five elections are:
District 2 — John Butler, 3,337; Melissa Landry, R-Lewiston, 2,788. The district covers part of Lewiston.
District 3 — Brian Ames (unopposed), 5,332. The district covers Greene, Durham and part of Lewiston.
District 5 — John Michael, 2,665; Bonney Starbird, D-Auburn, 2,487. The district covers part of Auburn.
District 6 — Terri Stankiewicz, 3,175; Shannon Dalton, D-Poland, 2,986; Raymond Lafrance, libertarian from Poland, 1,454. The district includes Mechanic Falls, Poland and part of Auburn.
District 7 — Sally Christner, 6,082. The district covers Turner, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Leeds and Minot.
Michael was seeking a return to elected office after he represented Auburn in the Maine Legislature beginning in 1978, serving eight nonconsecutive terms through 2002. He said more control is needed on the county budget and said his experience has taught him “where bureaucrats like to hide money.”
Butler replaces Melissa Willette in Lewiston. Butler, an outside salesman for the family business Butler Bros., touted his past experience in city government, having served 16 years on the Lewiston School Board and four years on the city council.
Stankiewicz replaces Two opponents challenged incumbent Raymond Lafrance in The final results were not known by the Sun Journal’s print deadline Tuesday.
Lafrance, a Libertarian, replaced former commissioner Zakk Maher nearly three months ago after Maher resigned to become the town manager of Mechanic Falls.
Lafrance worked for the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s department for 40 years, serving as captain for 31 years. Democratic challenger Shannon Dalton of Poland wants to see more balance between the town’s budgets and the county. Terri Kelly Stankiewicz, a Republican from Mechanic Falls, describes herself as a “fiscal conservative”and promised she would work to lessen the tax burden.
Two Republicans are running unopposed for seats on the County Commission — newcomer Brian Ames in District 3 (Greene, Durham and part of Lewiston) and incumbent Sally Christner in District 7 (Turner, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Leeds and Minot).
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