Election officials say voting on par with previous gubernatorial contests
Central Maine voters interviewed Tuesday ranked the state’s future governor, the issue of bear baiting and control of the U.S. Congress as the most important issues this Election Day in interviews at polling places in Waterville, Winslow and Oakland.
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Election officers reported turnout was steady throughout the day, about on par with other gubernatorial races.
“Compared to other gubernatorial races, I’d say it’s about the same,” said Waterville Election Warden Roland Hallee.
In Oakland, Town Clerk Janice Porter said Question 1 — which would ban baiting, trapping and the use of dogs to hunt bears — may be attracting new voters this year.
“I’ve had a few people with Question 1 that maybe haven’t normally voted or even been registered,” she said. “That brings out a lot of the hunters.”
Most voters questioned said the gubernatorial race was the most important issue on the ballot, some saying their vote wasn’t necessarily for a particular candidate as much as it was to bring about change from the status quo.
“I don’t really have any particular reason for voting for Michaud necessarily,” said Luigi Sanpilli of Oakland. “But I’m just not really impressed with LePage the last four years. I don’t really see a reason for it to continue when I don’t feel he’s doing his job that he needs to be doing.”
Sanpilli said he typically votes Democratic. He opposed Question 1, saying he is “pretty big on gun rights and hunting.”
In Winslow, Susan Witham, a longtime Republican, said the most important issue for her was seeing that LePage is re-elected.
“He’s kicking butt. He’s taking care of us rather than trying to sound nice. He’s doing good things,” she said. “I don’t care what he says as long as he’s doing the job.”
Oakland resident Pam Camilleri said she voted for LePage based on his work as mayor of Waterville to balance budgets and grow local businesses.
“He’s an amazing man,” she said. “His heart is sincere, and he really cares for the Maine people.”
In Waterville, Colby College student Maeve Dolan said her vote for Michaud was “more of a vote against LePage and generally for the Democrats.”
A native of New York who was voting in her first election, Dolan was among a minority of voters interviewed who said control of Congress was the most important issue in the election.
“I don’t know how we’re going to do,” she said of the Democrats. “It’s seeming like we’re not going to do so hot, so that’s why I came out to vote.”
Fellow student Leah Durst said social issues were key to her support of Democrats.
“Basically, women’s rights, especially reproductive rights, are really important to me as a woman, but also as a human being,” she said. “I think that people should exercise their own will over their own bodies, not the government.”
While several said Question 1 was the most important issue on the ballot, some supporters said it was less likely to pass as written.
“It’s not baiting so much as the trapping and the dogs. This would pass if they would take the baiting off,” said Nancy Marshall, of Oakland.
“It’s not hunting anymore. It’s bait and wait,” she said.
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