City seeking candidate for Ward 3 Few running for Lewiston School Committee

In one Lewiston School Committee election this year, the city is seeking candidates.

There is no candidate in Ward 3, which covers some of the Geiger, Farwell and Montello school neighborhoods. The city is asking for volunteers to step forward and become write-in candidates.

For the remaining six wards, there aren't any "races." None of the candidates is contested. In six of the seven wards, there's one candidate for each spot.

Outgoing Ward 3 committee member and Bates College professor Dennis Grafflin said he's been trying for the past year and a half to recruit someone to run. "Plenty of people have expressed interest, but no one has actually stepped up to file as a candidate," Grafflin said.

Since 20 percent of Lewiston students are Somali, Grafflin said he'd like to see someone from the immigrant population serve.

"Getting involved with the public schools is the logical place for them to enter more fully into the public life of Lewiston," he said. "But the pool of people who fit the citizenship requirement, have the time and are comfortable with the language demands is not huge.

With the election days away on Monday, City Clerk Kathleen Montejo wasn't aware of a write-in candidate.

In other wards there are new candidates to replace those stepping down.

Ward 1 member John Butler Jr. is not running for re-election because he's running for the City Council. In his place is candidate Walter E. Hill Jr. of 10 Loubier Ave.

Ward 2 member Larry Lachance, and Grafflin of Ward 3, are not seeking re-election because they've served eight years and they say it's time for them to step down.

In Lachance's place is Paul R. St. Pierre of 12 Ventura St. St. Pierre is a School Committee veteran, having served from 1990 to 2002.

Also not seeking re-election is Ward 5 representative Norman B. Prevost. Running in his place is newcomer Sonia G. Taylor.

The following incumbents are running without opposition: Leah M. B. Poulin, at-large; James Handy, a past chairman, legislator and longtime member of Ward 4; Ronella A. Paradis of Ward 6; and current Chairman Thomas P. Shannon of Ward 7.