By Stowell P. Watters
Staff Writer
    Amanda Stackpole of Kennebunk shouldered her toddler, Emily, and crossed the street under the pouring rain before being met with a “Closed” sign at the Kennebunk Town Hall on Election Day, Nov. 6.
    In September the building’s elevator broke, and the ongoing repair process— which is scheduled for completion later this month— forced the staff to move the voting station down the street to the Saint Martha Catholic Church in order to comply with disabled and elderly voters, according to Town Clerk Joanna Moran.
    Stackpole was not impressed.
    “I am very busy today, I didn’t see a single notice about the change, and look, it’s pouring out,” Stackpole said, before getting into her car and heading to the church.
    Moran affirms the town did, however, publish numerous public notices including an ongoing bulletin on the public access channel. She also said the notice was run in local newspapers and appeared on the town’s Web site.
    “We have been telling people this for a month now, aside from knocking on people’s doors I did everything I could,” Moran said.
    At town hall a few people stayed to answer phone calls and deal with people, such as Stackpoke, who hadn’t received the notice.
    “So far no one has come up the stairs, we have plenty of signs, and it should be said that we are very thankful for the support of the church,” said Debbie Johnson, Kennebunk’s deputy tax collector.
    A few voting booths sat upstairs at town hall but they merely served as a decoration to remind residents that its voting season, Johnson said.
    Moran said although she did all she could to notify residents of the venue change she sincerely hopes the confusion and the rain did not hurt voter turn out.
    “We take what we can get,” she said. “The hot topics this year are the referendum concerning the noise ordinance and the bonding referendum, not to mention the racino question… they will definetly bring the voters out, rain or shine.” With 280 absentee ballots already cast by 8:30 a.m. Moran is predicting a large turnout.
    John Mercurio of Kennebunk moved to Kennebunk a year ago and had no trouble on Nov. 6.
    “We are fairly new to the town and I believe it is extremely important to exercise one’s right to vote, so that is why I am here,” he said. “Also, it helps new members of the community become familiarized with the big issues.”
    Gayle Spofford, a resident of Kennebunk and a member of the MSAD 71 school board stood near the exit of the church, encouraging voters to sign her petition.
    “Voters are people in the know, people who care, so I am trying to talk to them about the consolidation law,” Spofford said. Her petition calls for the repeal of the current school administrative reorganization law.
    In neighboring Kennebunkport Marie Henricksen and her daughter Kristin stood under an awning at the entrance of the Village Fire Station, greeting voters and discussing the propsed Tides Inn contract zone.
    “We will be here all day and all night, we know this is a hot button issue today and we are just really excited this day has finally come,” Marie said.
    Town Clerk April Defoe said in addition to the Tides Inn question, the revaluation question is drawing a lot of residents to the polls.
    “Between the contract zone, the racino question and the revaluation I am expecting a fairly large turnout,” Defoe said. By 9:00 a.m. 114 voters had already come and gone and 270 of the 327 absentee ballots had already been filed.
    Debbie Lord of Kennebunkport braved the weather to voice her opinion on Maine’s racino question, among others.
    “This is a big voting season, I always come out to vote if it concerns casinos and there are a few bond issues this year, bond issues always draw a lot of attention,” Lord said.
    See next week’s Post for election results.