First-time candidate Desiree Scorcia defeated incumbent Charles “Chuck” Cunningham by five votes Monday in securing a Boothbay selectman’s seat. Scorcia, 40, won 206-201 in earning a three-year term. Scorcia is Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library’s assistant director of community engagement and non-profit management. 

She began taking a greater interest in local affairs in September 2017 as part of the Maine State Librarians Engaged in Leadership Training program. Scorcia and Head Librarian Johanna Breen began attending various public meetings most notably several Joint Economic Development Council meetings as part of the course. The program’s goal is bringing librarians from behind the reference desk and into the greater community. As Scorcia attended more events, residents urged her to run for selectman. 

“As I watched how decisions were being made, it became frustrating. I’m thinking maybe there should be more research or more questions asked,” she said. “It was also frustrating watching and not being more involved,” she said. One area Scorcia wants to focus on is local housing. She believes more research is needed before the town commits to a plan for increasing housing. “It’s a big issue which everybody is talking about, but I think we need to look at the infrastructure to see if we can support an increased population. Let’s do the groundwork, first, and see how many people our roads and sewer can support.”

Cunningham served over a decade as selectman and previously on the planning board. Cunningham had also served as the chairman of the board for the past two years. In defeating a long serving incumbent, Scorcia believed voters wanted a fresh approach to municipal government. “People wanted to see the younger population represented especially younger families in government,” she said. “Having grown up here, they know my values and know I genuinely want to help the community.”

In the May 6 election, Boothbay also re-elected four unopposed incumbents: Bruce MacDonald (342), CSD superintending committee; V. Kevin Anthony (326), CSD trustee; Alan Bellows (344), Boothbay Region Water District trustee; and Stanley W. “Swing” Lewis (364), Boothbay Region Cemetery District trustee. Voters also approved all 29 remaining warrant articles which included several articles authorizing municipal spending. Voters authorized a $2,168,998 municipal budget which represents $69,635 or a 3.32% spending increase. 

Residents approved an article appropriating $23,000 from the Commercial Development Omnibus Tax Increment Finance District for roundabout landscaping. Residents also approved transferring a right-of-way acquired during the roundabout project back to the Maine Department of Transportation. Residents authorized seeking third party conservation easement holder rights from Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ gift to Boothbay Region Land Trust for a 75-acre property in the Knickerbocker Lake Watershed.