UPDATED 10:04 P.M.: Mainers have authorized $100 million in bonds for infrastructure improvements and low-income housing for seniors.

The bonds are divided between two questions, and both won approval from Maine voters on Tuesday.

One would authorize $85 million for infrastructure projects. Most of the money would pay to build, rebuild or rehabilitate state highways and replace and rehabilitate bridges.

The other question would provide $15 million for housing for seniors. Most of the money would be used to build new, affordable homes for low-income households headed by a person who is over 55 years old.

Also on the statewide ballot was a clean election overhaul. With 59 percent of precincts reporting, it was winning with 52 percent of the vote.

Strimling defeated the city’s first elected mayor, incumbent Michael Brennan, along with Green Independent party leader Tom MacMillan. Strimling won with 51 percent of the vote on Tuesday.

Brennan and Strimling sparred about how they would work with Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Brennan said Strimling “naively” believes a functional relationship with Republican Gov. Paul LePage is possible. MacMillan said overcoming the governor’s negative impression of Portland will be a big challenge for the next governor.

The race also touched on affordable housing, the city’s minimum wage and the pace of development in the city.

UPDATED 10 p.m.: Voters in Maine’s largest city have rejected proposals to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour and to change the city’s planning ordinance to protect water views.

The City Council already approved a minimum wage hike from $7.50 to $10.10 per hour that goes into effect on Jan. 1. The move made Portland the first municipality in the state to decide to have a minimum wage higher than the statewide minimum, but voters decided an additional hike was too much.

The other referendum was aimed at protecting water views.

The proposal would’ve required developers to share information with the public about projects that require rezoning. Supporters say they hoped to preserve views of Portland Harbor and rein in zoning change proposals.

Opponents said the initiative would’ve hold back growth in the city.

In District 19, Harrington defeated Jean Noon, wife of former State Rep. William Noon, who died on July 15 after battling cancer. Harrington won with 48 percent of the vote.

In District 23, Ordway collected 41 percent of the vote, enough to beat Democrat Lynn Olson. They were vying for an empty seat after Rep. Michael Shaw, a Democrat, resigned on Aug. 21.

Neither of the special elections changes the balance of power on the Democratic-controlled House.

UPDATED 3:12 P.M.: PORTLAND (AP) — Mainers are deciding Tuesday whether to approve changes that “clean election” advocates say will restore the state’s campaign finance rules that were weakened by a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Voters also are considering whether to authorize $100 million in bonds mostly for state highways and bridges and housing for seniors.

The Mainers for Accountable Elections coalition said the clean election referendum would strengthen the state’s campaign finance law, which gives public money to candidates running for governor and the Legislature.

The proposal would make more money available to qualifying candidates, increase fines for violators of the campaign finance laws and require groups to disclose some donors on political ads, the group said. State funding for the Maine Clean Election Fund would grow from $2 million to $3 million per year.

Gov. Paul LePage has called the overhaul “a scam,” and said voters are naive if they think the changes will get money out of politics. But Lizzy Reinholt, a spokeswoman for Mainers for Accountable Elections, said approval would “allow Maine to lead the way on campaign finance reform.”

The bond proposals were divided between two questions.

One would authorize $85 million for infrastructure projects. Most of the money would pay to build, reconstruct or rehabilitate state highways and replace and rehabilitate bridges.

The other question would provide $15 million for housing for seniors. Most of the money would be used to build new, affordable homes for low-income households headed by a person who is over 55 years old.

PORTLAND (AP) — Maine voters are going to the polls to vote on whether to approve changes to the state’s campaign finance rules and authorize $100 million in bonds.

The Mainers for Accountable Elections coalition wants voters to approve an overhaul it says will strengthen the campaign finance law, which gives public money to candidates running for governor and the Legislature.

The bonds are divided between two questions. One would authorize $85 million for infrastructure projects. Most of the money would pay to construct, reconstruct or rehabilitate state highways and replace and rehab bridges.

The other question would provide $15 million for housing for seniors. Most of the money would be used to build new, affordable homes for low-income households headed by a person who is over 55 years old.

Lewiston and Auburn voters will choose mayors, city councilors and school committee members. 

2015 Election Coverage 

• Follow our live blog and election coverage
• Live election results when the polls close at 8 p.m.
• Coverage from Lewiston & Auburn Mayoral, City Council and School Committee races. 

Copy the Story Link