PARIS — Early returns from Tuesday’s elections indicated opposition to a proposal to change the status of the county treasurer.
Nine Oxford County towns had reported their tallies on the treasurer question by late evening, with 2,673 against and 1,286 for the measure. The county commissioners recommended that the treasurer be changed from an elected to an appointed position, arguing that it would lead to cost savings and more efficiency in county government.
Critics, including several county treasurers, charged that the change would make the treasurer more reliant on the commissioners and threaten the checks and balances in county government. Roy Gedat, who was nominated by the Oxford County Democrats and approved by Gov. John Baldacci to replace retiring Treasurer Mary Ann Prue earlier this year, opposed the proposal and said it was a partisan move.
Gedat was running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for county treasurer. County Republicans did not have a nominee for the office.
Knox County is the only Maine county with an appointed treasurer.
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