Gouldsboro, Hancock, Sorrento, Sullivan, Maine
Candidates, Issues, Community Support
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Committee Members on the Ballot---Regional Issues
Committee Members (and other Democrats) seeking elected office
Representative to the House District 12--Norman Bamford, committee Vice Chair, for 2026 Democratic Primary election (photo).
Graham Platner for US Senate
Municipal Candidates (D) needed
Gouldsboro Selectboard, one seat--November 4, 2025
Sullivan Selectboard, one seat--November 4, 2025
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 6 (D)--Candidate Search is on for June 2026 Primary
Reply above
VOTE NO on 1--November 4, 2025
Your voting rights are under attack
Fair, secure, and accessible elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. But a referendum question coming to Maine voters in November 2025 takes aim at Maine’s safe and secure voting system, including absentee voting. This referendum would make it harder for people across the state to vote – especially seniors, Mainers with a disability, and Mainers without reliable transportation.
Your vote matters. Help us to protect Maine’s strong voting tradition and Save Maine Absentee Voting.
What will I be voting on?
On May 5, the office of the Secretary of State released finalized language for Question 1 as it will appear on the November ballot. The question reads:
“Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”
What do I need to know?
In 2024, a citizen’s initiative campaign known as “Voter ID for ME,” collected signatures for regressive and restrictive changes to Maine’s voting laws. The Secretary of State’s office has since certified enough of those signatures, and the referendum question is now poised to be on the ballot on Election Day in November 2025. You can read the full draft proposal here.
This ballot measure is about so much more than just Voter ID. If it passes, many Mainers will see their access to the ballot box unfairly restricted.
It takes away local control by:
- Limiting the number of secure ballot drop-off boxes a town may offer
- Second-guessing town clerks, requiring a two-person, bipartisan team to check ballot boxes, instead of the clerk or a trusted member of their staff. This restriction will place undue pressure on town clerks, and will lead to many towns simply getting rid of their secure drop boxes.
- Prohibiting towns from including return postage on absentee ballots, even if taxpayers vote to fund it.
- Preventing you from calling your town clerk to request a ballot, making it harder for those without reliable transportation or internet to request an absentee ballot.
- It eliminates ongoing absentee ballots, even though this has been a boon for Maine seniors and Mainers with disabilities.
- It shortens the time period for early absentee voting by two days - two of the most popular days for early absentee voting.
This measure isn’t right for Maine. We all want our elections to be as secure as possible. Instead of making it harder for Maine citizens to vote and tying the hands of our town clerks, we should focus on giving state and local elections officials the resources they need.
Who We Are
The Save Maine Absentee Voting Coalition is a diverse, nonpartisan group of organizations from across Maine who believe that fair, open, and accessible elections are the cornerstone of our democracy.
Mainers are proud of our tradition of civic engagement, and our voter turnout is consistently among the highest in the country. Absentee voting is a key part of that safe, secure tradition; it is also enormously popular with voters. But a referendum slated to come before voters on Election Day in November 2025 – backed by wealthy, out-of-state interests – attacks Maine’s robust absentee voting program and would restrict Maine citizens’ access to the ballot box. Let’s work together to Save Maine Absentee Voting and keep our trusted voting laws strong.
Equity in School
From school board and committee member Terry Noyes--Some Sorrento citizens led by this organization have introduced a concept that the town withdraw from RSU 24. https://maine.parentsrightsineducation.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0m-75KW-m60c0ktQZhERe4E18MbjOA-alSHnok__7MZnn1RCdC0DTx_Q0_aem_Eu7Hs5YQKUf4qEAp17zLTQ
From school board and committee member Crystal Burke:
"There is a federal mandate; there needs to be access to free education for children who are unable to attend school for health safety reasons, but Hancock Grammar School is in violation of that mandate. Their environment is still unsafe for students with compromised immune systems.
Now that Covid has been declared no longer a health crisis, remote learning is not being provided and home schooling is very expensive for children below seventh grade. Something needs to happen as there are currently no options for high risk children (emergency legislation to lower the remote ed service age)."
Maine is facing challenges in special education funding due to federal cuts and local budget constraints:
- Federal Cuts: The U.S. Department of Education is reducing funding, which could impact individualized education plans for students with disabilities.
- Local Budget Reductions: Maine School Administrative District 11 cut $2.3 million from its budget, eliminating six teaching positions and five education technicians, affecting special education services.
- State Funding Challenges: While Maine now funds 55% of K-12 education, disparities remain, especially in special education and school maintenance.
- Potential Property Tax Increases: Federal cuts could lead to higher local taxes to compensate for lost funding.
These changes could affect students with disabilities, school staffing, and overall accessibility.
Zoning Challeges in Hancock
LD 2003: Like It or Lump It
Hancock Planning Board member Ant Blasi raised the following regarding adopting the proposed amendments to the Environmental Control Ordinance that are based on the increased housing density law, LD 2003, at its August 28
Public Hearing:
Why we were putting the cart before the horse by adopting and amending
ordinances before we have a new Comprehensive Plan. Resident Chris Blodgett said it was important for Town residents to understand where the
designated growth areas are, and how it affects them. Several members of the Planning
Board and the audience stressed the importance of circulating maps that outline the
Designated Growth Areas, although what these areas were, are or will be is uncertain.
The new regulations passed without a Designated Growth Area in place at an 11/6/24 Town Meeting, with Ant one of 2 voting to oppose these zoning amendments.
The Code Enforcement Officer should not issue building permits that authorize Designated Growth Area criteria just anywhere in town under a false interpretation that Maine law allows them on any lot, even when there is no approved Designated Growth Area.
Carter's Beach Road Rebuild
FEMA funds have been approved. Hancock will vote at town meeting on whether to contribute its share. Is the town prepared to protect public health by installing toilets/sanitation station? Has any town official walked the road and also seen the human feces and toilet tissue that are deposited there? Not to mention the ecological destruction of Hardscaping (road building). Construction bds will be accepted at the July 16 Selectboard Meeting. A workshop is scheduled for July 23.
The Planning Board has a request from the Selectboard remove the prohibition
1. to add outdoor recreational facilities like miniature golf courses, tennis courts, amusement and theme parks, water slides, zoos/animal parks, race tracks, speedways, motorcycle tracks, and riding stables to the commercial zone on Route One from Viking to the Ellsworth City Line. These uses were voted down at the September 15, 2021 Special Town Meeting.
Zoning Questions in Sorrento
Why is "Paper Roads" controversial? Regardless of the reason, Grundel was not hired to do the survey and final street grid layout. This work was done by a local surveyor named Gilbert E Simpson. Later sections of the development, including Doane’s Pt., are better quality surveys and are referenced on deeds as “The Simpson Plan.” While the first Simpson Plan and the Grundel Plan for Bean Point are similar, Simpson's was the one used for most real estate transfers and is more detailed, although perhaps less artistic.
Grundel's plan shows his ideas for creating sweeping non-linear avenues. His design concept for several streets radiating like spokes from the top of the hill -- above where the pool is today -- and down to the back bay, are particularly striking. Perhaps like the Boston commissioners, Grundel's plan was found to be impractical, especially since he seems to have created a plan for pieces of land that Lewis had not yet purchased.
A discussion of paper 'streets,' appears as of 9/25/24 on Friends of Sorrento Facebook Page:
Industrial Aquaculture in our coastal waters
The Quietside Journal (published in Mount Desert) posted a warning article
listing these towns as desired fish farm locations by the state Economic Development department (due to deep water availability):
Gouldsboro
Hancock
Sorrento