Published: May 20, 2008 11:14 pm            

LEW-PORT: It's Weller and Waller — for now

Newcomers barely earned board seats, but outstanding votes could change that

In a divisive race pitting fiscal conservatives Robert Weller and Ed Waller against incumbent James Mezhir and ally Bonnie Gifford, voters just barely sided with change, electing Weller and Waller to three-year terms.

But that could still change. Since the votes are so close, the district’s 49 affidavit ballots will have to be counted today — Gifford or Mezhir could still earn a seat if they get enough affidavit votes.

Weller is in the clear though, with a decisive vote count of 1,463. Waller came in second with 1,426, Gifford in third with 1,403 and Mezhir in fourth with 1,377.

In a district usually marred by divisive political rhetoric and attacks, this year was no different. In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s vote, anonymous mailers slamming and supporting both sides appeared in resident mail boxes. Some were blatantly false and were used to launch personal attacks, candidates said.

“It’s astounding that in a small community like this, there’s so many lies and so much garbage and it’s unfortunate people believe that,” Gifford said.

But both sides say the negative campaigns hurt them.

“If anything, I would say that was going to kill us,” Waller said. “We hadn’t invited or asked for it and it’s been a part of Lew-Port politics for a long time. It was a very unpleasant experience in the polls today around that.”

Mezhir and Gifford both wished the two top vote-getters the best, but expressed disappointment with voters apparently being swayed by what they called misinformation.

“I was living in fantasyland,” Mezhir said. “I thought it was going to be based on who did the best job for the community and I guess a zero percent tax levy increase wasn’t enough.”

Voters approved a 2008-09 budget of $40.43 million with no tax levy increase, 1,644 to 861.

The budget was approved by the board last month by a 4-2 vote — Ed Lilly and Scott Stepien voted it down because it included wasteful items, they said, like the membership for the state School Board Association.

Spending in the district went up about 4 percent, or $1.6 million, but the increases were countered by an increase in state aid.

The estimate school tax rates per $1,000 assessed value, with anticipated state aid, will be $22.78 in Lewiston, a 49-cent or 2.13 percent decrease, and $21.31 in Porter, a 36-cent or 1.37 percent increase.

The official results for the board seats will be announced today.

        

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