By Gillian Graham
Staff Writer

Old Orchard Beach voters re-elected two town councilors and approved the construction of a new police station in Tuesday’s election.
Shawn O’Neill and Sharri MacDonald each will serve another two-year term on the council. O’Neill, who is completing his 12th year as a councilor, campaigned on a promise to maintain fiscal responsibility and accountability. MacDonald, the current council chair, said while campaigning she would continue to meet with residents and promote the town.
The third candidate, William Danton, served two previous council terms. He said he ran for council because he wants the town to be perceived in a better light.
MacDonald said she has enjoyed working with her fellow councilors and looks forward to continuing work aimed at promoting Old Orchard Beach. She said the council is faced with “significant” work related to the police station project approved by voters.
“I’m very excited. It was a nice win,” she said.
O’Neill could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning.
Residents also voted on two referendum questions.
Voters approved the creation of a charter commission to revise or create a new municipal charter. Elected to the commission were John Bird, William Gombar, Paul Ladakakos, Ronald Regis and Michael Vallante.
More than 2,300 voters favored using $2.5 million in rescue billing fees to build a new police station on town-owned property, while 1,503 voters opposed the plan.
Police Chief Dana Kelley said he is grateful the community chose to support the plan to build a new police station that will better meet the department’s needs. He said he also is grateful to Crime Watch Council members for producing a public access video on the issue, which he thinks helped garner support.
“I’m excited to think we’re finally going to get a facility that will meet our needs,” he said.
Kelley said the next steps for the plan are not firm at this point, but he said a building committee likely will be formed to guide plans forward. He said Port City Architects, the firm that developed the building’s conceptual design, could also provide guidance on the process.
Old Orchard Beach voters said no to repealing the 2007 school consolidation law, as did voters across the state. RSU 23 board member Gary Curtis said the “real winners” of the vote are students in classrooms throughout the district.
 “The voters in Saco, Dayton and Old Orchard Beach have left no question as to where they stand on school regionalization. Voters overwhelmingly, by a more than two-to-one margin, have voted to remain partners in RSU 23,” he said. “It’s time to abandon the anti-RSU battle and work together to make this system work to achieve its goals of delivering a quality education in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Town Council
(two elected)
William Danton: 1,285
Sharri MacDonald: 2,755
Shawn O’Neill: 2,642

Charter Commission
(vote for six)
John Bird: 2,341
William Gombar: 2,231
Paul Ladakakos: 2,505
Ronald Regis: 2,278
Michael Vallante: 2,281

Local referendums
Question 1: Establish Charter Commission
Yes: 2,063
No: 1,525

Question 2: New police station
Yes: 2,376
No: 1,503

State referendum questions

Question 1: To veto same-sex marriage law
Yes: 1,870
No: 2,733

Question 2: Excise tax citizen initiative
Yes: 1,268
No: 2,758

Question 3: To repeal 2007 school district consolidation law
Yes: 1,290
No: 2,649

Question 4: Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights
Yes: 1,554
No: 2,457

Question 5: Medical marijuana
Yes: 2,674
No: 1,359

Question 6: Infrastructure bond issue
Yes: 2,838
No: 1,158

Question 7: Lengthen signature verification period for initiative petitions
Yes: 1,817
No: 2,113


Staff Writer Gillian Graham may be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.