LEWISTON — Nomination papers will become available later this month for the November municipal election, the first under new charter rules that will create staggered terms.
The process for introducing staggered terms, approved by voters in 2021, will make some terms three years — including the mayor — while others will remain the typical two years. After the transition, all municipal seats will be for two years.
Lewiston holds municipal elections every two years in which every seat is up for election, leaving the possibility of an entirely new slate of officials with every new cycle.
The charter review committee that ultimately recommended the change in 2021 argued that the two-year cycle in recent years “has led to significant turnover on the council, raising concerns regarding continuity and the potential for a largely newly elected governing body facing the challenge of the annual budget process shortly after taking office.”
The committee said moving to staggered council terms would address those concerns and “ensure that a solid base of experience remains on the council after each election.”
Early this week, the City Clerk’s Office announced that nomination papers for the election will be available to prospective candidates on Monday, June 26. The municipal seats to be filled include mayor, seven city councilors and eight School Committee seats. All candidates must be at least 20 years old and must be registered voters of Lewiston.
According to the clerk’s office, the mayor’s term will be for three years, as will City Council seats for Wards 2, 4 and 6, and School Committee seats for Wards 1, 3, 5, and 7.
The seats for City Council Wards 1, 3, 5 and 7 as well as School Committee Wards 2, 4, 6 and at-large, will remain two-year terms.
So far, only a few candidates in Lewiston and Auburn have announced intentions to run for office this year.
In Lewiston, Mayor Carl Sheline has announced he will seek reelection, as has longtime School Committee member Megan Parks.
Asked this week, City Clerk Kathy Montejo said that so far, she hasn’t received any questions from voters regarding the shift. She said she expects the transition to be smooth, and that the most significant difference may be for candidates, who in the past have always run campaigns during “off” years from federal and state elections.
“Their campaign material and message might get drowned out a bit since the state and federal candidates are also running at the same time, which will be a new aspect,” she said.
Montejo said the city will issue more info closer to Election Day explaining the transition and what will be on the ballot for voters.
Candidates for mayor must submit nomination papers signed by at least 100, or no more than 200, qualified voters of Lewiston. Those interested in the at-large seat on the School Committee must submit nomination papers signed by at least 50, or no more than 100, qualified voters of Lewiston. Candidates for all other positions must submit nomination papers signed by at least 50, or no more than 100, qualified voters of the respective ward.
Completed nomination papers must be filed with the City Clerk’s Office no later than Thursday, Aug. 24, by 4 p.m. All candidates are requested to file their nomination papers early in order to provide sufficient time to obtain additional signatures if necessary, Montejo said.
The municipal election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7. All terms will begin Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.
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