You might not know there is a municipal election going on in Edgecomb. After all, there are no candidate lawn signs, dozens of letters to the editor, or even campaign videos on Facebook. But there is. Voters head to the polls Friday, May 18 from 1 to 7 p.m. to elect municipal leaders. Six of the seven races are uncontested.

The only contest is for planning board. Chairman Jack French, a nine-year member, and Pat Jeremiah, an 11-year member, are both seeking new three-year terms. They are being challenged by Rebecca Graham. She has lived in Edgecomb 11 years and is employed as a legislative advocate for the Maine Municipal Association. 

Graham is seeking a seat due to many important decisions facing the town. “The new marijuana law is one. How implementation occurs is extremely  important because it will have a huge impact on the town,” she said.

Graham has previously served as an election clerk. She believes it’s important for residents to take an active role in their community.

Jeremiah sought a planning board seat over a decade ago due to her father’s influence. He served on the Concord, Massachusetts planning board. Jeremiah has a degree in city planning.  “I enjoy it very much, but sometimes it’s a tough job,” she said. “Sometimes you make a decision and people get mad at you.”

Jeremiah is retired. She volunteers for Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and other local organizations.

French is a partner in a Brunswick law firm. In Edgecomb, he owns a farm and raises sheep. “I first ran for planning board because of what was going on in town at the time. I was interested in land use  ordinances and land trust issues,” he said. “I’m running again because I enjoy it a great deal.”

Residents have the option of voting for two candidates. The two with the most votes will earn three-year terms. In all other races, incumbents seek new terms. Selectman Mike Smith seeks his second term. School Committee Chairman Tom Abello is also seeking reelection. Both positions are three-year terms. Three incumbents seek one-year terms. Town Clerk and Treasurer Claudia Coffin is seeking reelection, as are Tax Collector Deb Boucher and Road Commissioner Scott Griffin.

The annual town meeting is May 19 at 10 a.m. in the municipal building. The proposed combined municipal and school budget is $4,190,266. The proposed budget recommends a $243,246, or 6.7 percent, spending increase, but only asks taxpayers for a $107,097, or 3.1 percent, increase in the town assessment. Proposed education spending accounts for 68.47 percent of the combined budget.

Residents will also discuss buying a new fire truck. The department wanted to replace two aging rescue vehicles with a new Fast Attack vehicle equipped with a Ford F-550 chassis. Selectmen needed more time to gather financial information.

If residents signify their support for the purchase, selectmen would schedule a special town meeting later this year.

The largest municipal purchase is a new, $88,500 school bus. Residents are asked to authorize it under the municipal road budget. The school committee recommends purchase over a five-year term with a 3.5 percent interest rate. With interest, the bus would cost $96,599.

Residents will also consider appropriating funds for the Joint Economic Development Committee’s wayfinding project. The JEDC hired Gamble Design of Portsmouth, New Hampshire for advice on wayfinding signs for the region. The committee wants a variety of signs to attract more motorists to the peninsula. Large signs promoting the Boothbay region would appear on Route 27 and smaller ones about various local attractions would be located in individual towns.

Selectmen are asking Edgecomb residents to authorize $1,000 toward future wayfinding projects in the town.