Absentee Voting Protected, Labor-Endorsed Candidates Win in Bangor & Hallowell

It a was great night for democracy Tuesday as voters soundly defeated the Question 1 voter suppression referendum and elected labor-endorsed slates in Bangor and Hallowell. Statewide, voters crushed Question 1  in a landslide 60-40 split. The measure, which was funded in part by wealthy Bar Harbor resident Leonard Leo, would have severely restricted our right to vote absentee , which is used by roughly 40 percent of Maine voters. This is great news for older Mainers, people with disabilities and workers who can't always make it to vote in person on Election Day

The Eastern Maine Labor Council and Food AND Medicine are celebrating the victory of their slate of endorsed candidates for Bangor City Council and School Board. The following labor-endorsed Bangor City Council candidates won their elections:
 

• Daniel Carson - a FAM's board member and active participant in the labor movement in Maine.
• Angela Walker - an advocate with a strong commitment to her recovery and sharing recovery with others.
• Susan Faloon - a strong supporter of workers and marginalized people who supports justice-based solutions.

Mallory Cook and Benjamin Speed also won seats on the Bangor School Board. Both of them were endorsed by EMLC and FAM. We also want to wish our congratulations to school teacher and MEA member Charlie Urquhart who won a seat on the RSU 2 School Board. Charlie was endorsed by the Central Maine Labor Council.

Unfortunately, Metal Trades Council and UA 788 President Alana Schaeffer and Gerry Gay  (IAFF 1624) did not prevail in their council elections in Kittery and Sanford. We applaud these two labor champions for stepping up to run for office and serve their communities.