UPDATE: A shocking tie in the Bucksport school board election has thrown the race into uncertainty, with a runoff election likely in December 2023. In an unprecedented outcome, both candidates, Emily Fitzgerald and incumbent Keith Kneeland Jr., received exactly 773 votes each, following a recount that was requested by Kneeland.
The drama unfolded this week when Fitzgerald initially appeared to secure the three-year seat on the RSU 25 board with 773 votes to Kneeland’s 770 votes in the unofficial results. However, a recount on Thursday revealed the tie, as 187 ballots were left blank. This means one ballot was unaccounted for out of the total 1,734 ballots recorded, which was later found to be blank for the school board vote, confirming the tie.
Town officials reported that the final ballot was mistakenly mixed with state election ballots after being processed through the same tabulator machine. Jacob Gran, the Town Manager, indicated on Thursday that the process for breaking the tie was initially unclear, but by Friday, legal guidance confirmed the next steps.
If both candidates decide to remain in the race, state law mandates that the Town Council must call a runoff election. Gran emphasized that 30 days of absentee voting would be required before the polls open, indicating a runoff could occur in mid- to late December.
Both candidates have until next week to decide their next move. While Fitzgerald has not publicly declared her intentions, Kneeland expressed his determination to stay in the race, calling the experience a “giant roller coaster of emotions.” He noted the initial confusion on election night when he was first told he had won, only to find out later that absentee ballots had not been counted, which shifted the race in Fitzgerald’s favor.
“I didn’t expect much to change from the recount, but now I’m gearing up for another election,” Kneeland stated, emphasizing his commitment to fighting for the children of RSU 25 for another term.
The stakes in this election are incredibly high for the candidates and the community, as the outcome will determine who represents the interests of Bucksport, Orland, Prospect, and Verona Island in educational matters.
Stay tuned as more developments unfold in this unprecedented election situation. The community eagerly awaits the candidates’ decisions and the potential for a runoff that could reshape the future of their school board.
