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News Feature

Castine & Penobscot
Originally published in Castine Patriot, November 8, 2012
In Castine and Penobscot, state referendum questions (mostly) pass
High voter turnout in Penobscot

by Anne Berleant

In the November 6 general election, 777 or 73 percent of registered Penobscot voters cast their ballots, out of 1,062 registered voters in that town. Absentee ballots accounted for 139 votes.

Castine’s turnout was at 57 percent, with 602 votes cast out of 1,048 registered voters. Absentee ballots accounted for 140 votes.

The neighboring towns voted along the same lines on four of the five state referendum questions, splitting on approving the higher education bond.

Question 1, allowing same sex marriage: Castine 323-164, Penobscot 441-320 in favor, mirroring the statewide passage, 53 percent to 47 percent.

Question 2, approving an $11.3 million higher education bond, Castine 352-128, in favor; Penobscot 381-361 against. As of press time, this was not definitively decided statewide, with 51 percent voting against and 49 percent in favor, with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

Question 3, approving a $5 million bond to purchase land and conservation easements, Castine 342-138, Penobscot 449-314 in favor, following the state voter approval, 61 percent to 39 percent.

Question 4, approving a $51.5 million transportation bond, Castine 390-91, Penobscot 540-215. This passed statewide, 72 percent to 28 percent.

Question 5, approving a $7,925,000 water systems bond, Castine 361-116, Penobscot 445-307. Statewide, this passed 63 percent to 37 percent.

Both Penobscot and Castine favored Democratic candidates across the board with two exceptions.

Republican candidate and Penobscot resident Sherman Hutchins lost his bid 1037-689 for the District 37 House seat against Democrat incumbent Ralph Chapman of Brooksville, he won Penobscot 419-334 and Castine 290-268.

Winning U.S. Senate Independent candidate Angus King also captured Penobscot by a one-third margin over Republican Charles Summer; Castine’s margin was 2-1 for King.

The remaining Democratic candidates captured each town’s votes.

President Barack Obama garnered 338 votes, Willard Mitt Romany 241, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson 10 and Green Party candidate Jill Stein 2 in Castine, while Penobscot voters cast 467 votes for Obama, 280 for Romney, 13 for Johnson and 10 for Stein.

In the Maine Senate District 31 race, Republican Edward Youngblood (Brewer) won the seat vacated by Richard Rosen (Bucksport). However, Castine voted 290-255 in favor of Democrat Emery Deabay (Bucksport), as did Penobscot 460-265.

Incumbent Michael Michaud (D) was re-elected as Congressman for District 2 with Castine voting 354-222 and Penobscot voting 484-263 in his favor against Republican opponent Kevin Raye.

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