By Gillian Graham
Staff Writer

Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey danced around the city clerk’s office and hugged supporters in the moments after learning she was elected to a second term.
“I’m humbled by it,” she said. “My heart is about to burst.”
Twomey said she worked hard to spread her message during the campaign season, but didn’t have much money to spend on advertising. She said she feels “validated” and believes in the work she has done and will continue in the next two years.
“The validation is about the work that I’ve done, the people I love, the students I love,” she said. “I’m so proud to be mayor of the greatest city. That’s all I can say.”
Biddeford High School Principal Britton Wolfe said he was happy voters chose to spend $34 million to renovate the high school. The work will include updating classrooms, replacing windows that leak heat and making the entire building handicap accessible.
“Like I said in the campaign, I really feel this is a historic moment for the city,” he said.
Wolfe said the project is critical to the city’s revitalization efforts. He said students and staff would gather Wednesday for a school meeting to discuss what’s next and, most importantly, to celebrate.
Election results for Saco and Old Orchard Beach were not ready by the Courier’s print deadline Tuesday evening. Results are now available online at blog.inthecourier.com.

Saco City Clerk Lucette Pellerin said voter turnout Tuesday morning was “brisk” as Saco residents all voted at the community center on Franklin Street for the first time. She said 750 people cast ballots in the first two hours polls were open and more than 1,400 people had voted by noon.
“It’s beautiful outside. That always helps get the turnout,” she said.
Pellerin said having all residents vote in one location was going relatively smoothly, despite some early problems with parking. There are a few kinks staff need to work out for next time, including ensuring vehicles have room to both enter and exit the parking lot, she said.
While voters streamed into the community center Tuesday, Pellerin said things were just as busy during early voting at city hall. Saco was one of nine communities statewide to participate in an early voting pilot program.
On Monday, Pellerin said her staff was busy all day as more than 400 voters cast their ballots. She said 954 people voted last week during the early voter period. A large number of voters also requested absentee ballots, she said.
“We’re out straight,” she said.
Saco mayoral candidates Roland Michaud and Ronald Morton both greeted voters as they arrived at the community center. Michaud, who was running for a second term, said having voting in one location seems to be more efficient for staff.
Michaud said voter turnout is “critically important” for any election and he was encouraged by the number of people voting Tuesday.
“The flow has been in and out constantly,” he said.
Morton said he was happy with the voter turnout and he thinks the state referendum questions “have a lot to do with it.”
“I’m impressed,” he said. “It’s been really busy all morning.”
Nancy Tripp of Saco made her way into the community center around noon. She said she paid especially close attention to analysis of the state referendum questions.
“It’s always important to vote. I’ve never missed one since I turned 18. It’s an important year and it looks like people agree with me,” she said, pointing to a line of cars waiting to exit the parking lot.
In Biddeford, candidates gathered to greet voters as they entered Biddeford High School, J. Richard Martin Community Center and the Knights of Columbus Hall. A steady stream of voters entered each location Tuesday morning as temperatures reached into the 40s and the sun shone brightly.
Biddeford City Clerk Carmen Lemieux said her staff was “extremely busy” with absentee ballots prior to Tuesday. In 2007, the last local election, 620 voter requested absentee ballots. This year, 1,966 voters had requested absentee ballots as of Monday afternoon, she said.
“If absentee voting is an indication, they’ll be pretty busy tomorrow,” she said.
Warden Heather Locke said she was busy Tuesday morning feeding absentee ballots into a counting machine at the Knights of Columbus Hall. She said it was time consuming because of folds in the ballots.
Elizabeth Howe of Biddeford said she came out to the polls to support her nephew, Bil Moriarty, a city council candidate. She said she also paid close attention to the state referendum questions, especially question 1.
“I think most of the questions are important this year,” she said.
In Old Orchard Beach, Town Clerk Kim McLaughlin buzzed around the high school gym as lines of voters waited to pick up their ballots. She said voting was heavy throughout the morning and many residents had already voted by absentee ballot.
“We had about 500 more requests than we did at any other non-presidential election,” she said.
Outside, Carlene Cyr said she voted to make a difference locally. Beth Bradford said she votes regardless of what is on the ballot.
“I always vote because I have a say,” she said.
Mary Britton left the gym hand-in-hand with her 7-year-old daughter Tamisha. Both wore “I voted today” stickers on their jackets. Britton said she votes every year and talks has discussed issues with her daughter, including her concerns about gay marriage begin taught in schools.
“I think it’s important for her to know people have different believes and upbringings,” she said.
 
Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.