UPDATE: A remarkable tie in the Bucksport school board election has set the stage for an impending runoff in December. Emily Fitzgerald and incumbent Keith Kneeland Jr. both received 773 votes after a recount overturned initial results, prompting urgent discussions about the next steps.
On Thursday, a recount requested by Kneeland revealed an unprecedented outcome for the RSU 25 board, where each candidate secured the same number of votes. The recount followed a chaotic election night on Tuesday, where Fitzgerald was initially declared the winner with 773 votes to Kneeland’s 770 votes. However, the recount confirmed the tie, with 187 ballots left blank out of a total of 1,734 ballots recorded.
According to Town Manager Jacob Gran, the final ballot was discovered mixed with state election ballots, explaining the tie. Gran stated that both candidates have seven days to decide whether they will withdraw from the race. As of now, neither candidate has indicated intentions to back down.
Kneeland, expressing his determination, said, “I am 1000% staying in the race.” He described the experience as “a giant roller coaster of emotions,” highlighting the unexpected twists of the election process. Fitzgerald, on the other hand, has not publicly confirmed her decision regarding the runoff.
If both candidates remain in the race, state law mandates that the Town Council will call for a runoff election. Gran noted that at least 30 days of absentee voting would be necessary before the election, suggesting that the runoff could occur in mid- to late December.
This unique situation has captured the attention of the Bucksport community, with implications for the school board that oversees educational decisions for the region, including Bucksport, Orland, Prospect, and Verona Island. As residents await further developments, the anticipation for the upcoming election is palpable.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds. The stakes are high, and the community is eager to see who will ultimately secure the crucial seat on the board.
