HOULTON, Maine — Two Houlton town councilors, who had resigned their seats in October but remained on the ballot, were elected Tuesday night to three-year terms, although it is unclear whether they will accept the roles.
Former council Chairperson Jane Torres and Councilor Alexis Brown did not withdraw from the race despite resigning weeks earlier, along with three other councilors, over fallout from the town manager’s arrest.
Brown led the pack with 698 votes, followed by Torres with 460. Declared write-in candidates Brandon Carmichael received 240 votes and Carl Young 188.
Former Town Councilor Sue Tortello, picked up a third uncontested seat on the council with a one-year term, receiving 1,035 votes in Tuesday’s election.
Torres and Brown did not respond to a Bangor Daily News request for comment, although Torres previously said that she was unsure if she would accept.
Torres and Brown have 10 days after the town’s written request to decide whether to accept or reject the seat. If they reject their seat, the council will appoint a councilor to serve in their place until the next election, rather than seat the write-in candidate with the most votes, Wampler said.
The continuing town saga that has been raging since Town Manager Cameron Clark’s Sept. 25 arrest and incarceration on felony victim tampering and domestic violence assault charges exploded during an emergency town council meeting Oct. 10.
Torres resigned that night after the council voted to place Clark on administrative leave. Councilors James Peters and Erin Matthews also resigned, leaving the town with two remaining councilors and no governing body without a quorum.
The council’s decision came as calls to remove Clark from his position escalated and tensions deepened between residents, town employees and town councilors.
Nonetheless, Torres and Matthews declared their continued allegiance to Clark despite placing him on leave and pointed to community backlash over keeping him on the job after his arrest as the reason they were vacating their posts.
“As council chair I believe that recent threats directed toward the council have created an environment that is no longer conducive to effective government,” Torres said. “Cameron Clark has distinguished himself as one of the most effective and proactive leaders I have had the opportunity to collaborate with. My support for Cameron Clark is unwavering.”
A week earlier, Brown resigned just hours after Councilor Jon McLaughlin resigned. The two relinquished their council seats because, at the time, the council chose to keep Clark on the job.
Following the rash of councilor resignations, three people were appointed on Oct. 15 to one-year terms by remaining Councilors Edward Lake and Eileen McLaughlin, restoring the council’s quorum of four members and a chairperson.
McLaughlin terms out of her seat this month, but Lake remains, along with the newly appointed councilors.
At this point, it is unclear when or if Clark will return to his town manager role, pending the outcome of his criminal case. His first hearing is in February.
A local referendum question, “Shall the town be authorized to commit and borrow up to $2.2 million to improve and maintain roads and sidewalks?,” passed 972 to 338.
