HARTFORD – With calls for a revote, statements of protest and accusations of wrongdoing flying, the Hartford Board of Selectmen has called its second special meeting this week to discuss a host of problems that occurred during local elections on May 17.
The Friday meeting will be held at 8 a.m. in the town office, according to a notice faxed to the Sun Journal by Town Clerk Zoe Cowett.
When reached by phone Tuesday, Selectman Lee Holman said the meeting may be held behind closed doors in executive session because the board will discuss legal questions about the election with town attorney Geoffrey Hole. She added that she hopes the selectmen will be able to issue a statement after the meeting.
Whether the meeting goes forward will depend on Selectman Laura Marston, who according to Holman, agreed to hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, but then declined to assist in calling it to order after declaring it improper. Although the meeting was not called to order, the selectmen and a group of residents reportedly discussed the election problems for an hour and a half.
Marston could not be reached for comment Tuesday. On Monday, before she had been told about the night’s meeting, said she would attend if notified.
Holman had called the meeting to sign a warrant for a runoff election scheduled for May 31, which was to settle a tie vote between town clerk candidates Cowett and Lianne Bedard. She said the meeting was necessary because the selectmen had to sign and post the warrant at least seven days before the event.
Holman also said she wanted to discuss what the board would do in response to questions raised regarding the May 17 election and the race for an open seat on the Board of Selectmen.
When reached by phone at his Portland law firm Tuesday, Hole declined to comment on the election without permission from the selectmen. In a return phone call, Holman said she was uncomfortable authorizing Hole to speak with the Sun Journal without first speaking to Marston.
In a letter faxed to Cowett on Tuesday, Hole said a runoff election must be held because of the tie vote between town clerk candidates Cowett and Bedard. As to 13 election day violations pointed out by the family of Jason Rowe, a selectman candidate who lost to Roland Downing in a 96-93 vote, Hole said that he had not had time to thoroughly review each allegation. However, he said a court would be unlikely to overturn the results of an election unless any errors would have significantly affected the race’s outcome.
Hole did present the town with scenarios that could trigger a revote, including the possibility of Downing’s taking office and then stepping down, or failing to appear to be sworn in.
Meanwhile, Rowe’s family and former Town Clerk Monica Mailly, who lost the clerk race with 55 votes to 71 each for Cowett and Bedard, have continued to push the town for some definitive action. Rowe’s family and Mailly were among those present at the discussion Monday. Mailly then submitted a handwritten letter stating that she contested “the illegal election held May 17, 2005,” according to Holman.
Rowe said Tuesday that his family has contacted the Maine Attorney General’s Office with a list that has grown to 27 election-day violations. He commented that he does not feel either selectman has taken any initiative to address the May 17 problems. He said he does not expect a revote, but wants to make sure future elections are run properly.
“I think they probably could solve this whole issue if they came up with a plan to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he said.
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