An incumbent first elected in 2021 and a newcomer were the top two vote-getters in Ellsworth’s City Council race on Tuesday.
Steve O’Halloran was reelected with 2,007 votes, and Tabatha White, who has not previously held public office, was elected with 2,197 votes in the five-way race, according to unofficial results. O’Halloran is a businessman who owns and operates a transportation company, while White is an arborist who currently chairs the city’s arbor commission.
John Linnehan, a local conservative businessman who has run for local or state office several times over the past 20 years, again failed to win enough support to win. He received 1,644 votes, finishing in third place in the race for two seats.
In addition to his runs for public office and his pledges to reduce taxes, Linnehan is known for founding and operating conservative event space Constitution Hall at a local mall for two years, his support of gun rights and for drawing scrutiny from state regulators over his business practices.
Also on the ballot were local real estate agent Rob McKenney and former city employee Cale Roberts. McKenney received 1,387 votes, and Robert received 1,086.
Casey Hanson, a family physician who has served on the council the past three years, did not seek reelection.
Ellsworth voters also indicated that they would support allowing retail recreational marijuana stores in the city. The ballot question passed 2,291 to 1,874.
The referendum sought to gauge whether residents are willing to have Ellsworth officials draft possible regulations that would allow such shops and related marijuana businesses in the city.
