A Huge Voter Turnout Marks Election Day
by Edd Merritt

Over 87 percent of eligible voters in Charlotte cast ballots on Tuesday. According to poll worker Heather Manning, the polls were opened at 6:50 a.m. to accommodate the roughly 50 people lined up and waiting at that early hour. There was steady movement through the booths for the remainder of the day until polls closed at 7 p.m.
Town Clerk Mary Mead estimated that nearly 1,000 residents, or just over 35 percent of eligible voters, cast absentee ballots. Two local races led the way, and the proposed changes to zoning regulations that would allow retail development of the Route 7/Church Hill Road intersection was narrowly defeated 1,260 no votes to 1,129 yes. In the race for State Representative from the district, incumbent Scott Orr defeated challenger Ed Stone 1,314 to 969. The following people were voted in as Justices of the Peace: Jill Abilock, Greg Cluff, Sharron Delaney, Moe Harvey, Michael Krasnow, Mike Kurt, Dave Nichols, Debbie Ramsdell, Robin Reid, Jerry Schwarz, Carrie Spear and Mike Yantachka.
The following information shows how Charlotters voted in the day’s general elections:

President/Vice President
Obama/Biden 1,802
McCain/Palin 612
Bob Barr, Ralph Nader, Chuck Baldwin and Brian Moore also received votes.

Governor
Jim Douglas 1,265
Gaye Symington 600
Anthony Pollina 525

Lieutenant Governor
Brian Dubie 1,226
Thomas Costello 1,029
Richard Kemp and Ben Mitchell also received votes.

Congressional Representative
Peter Welch 1,997
Jerry Trudell, Mike Bethel, Thomas Hermann, Cris Ericson and Jane Newton also received votes.

State Senate (The top six from the district gain seats in the Senate.)
Doug Racine 1,520
Ed Flanagan 1,318
Ginny Lyons 1,251
Diane Snelling 1,212
Hinda Miller 1,062
Paula Spadaccini 863
Denise Barnard (858), Tim Ashe (783), Dennis Bedard (528), Darren Adams (482), Robyn Myers-Moore (475), Agnes Clift (467), Tom Licata (328) and Larkin Formey (50) followed in order of votes received.
Secretary of State
Deb Markowitz 1,690
Eugene Bifano 494
Marjorie Power and Leslie Marmorale also received votes.

Attorney General
William Sorrell 1,780
Karen Kerin 300
Charlotte Dennett and Rosemarie Jackowski also received votes.
State Treasurer
Jeb Spaulding 2,034
Don Schramm and Murray Ngoima also received votes.
Auditor of Accounts
Thomas Salmon 1,768
Martha Abbott and Jerry Levy also received votes.
High Bailiff
Daniel Gamelin ran uncontested.