Five referendum questions were on the state ballot Tuesday. New Gloucester fell in with a majority of Mainers on two of them but not the three bond measures.
New Gloucester voters joined a statewide majority in voting thumbs-down on adopting a redesigned Pine Tree Flag as the official state flag – Question 5.
Local voters supported Question 1, a citizen initiative that proposed a $5,000 limit on contributions to Super PACs, as did the rest of the state. (Super PACs don’t have to disclose major donors and can make unlimited ‘independent expenditures,’ like attack ads, as long as they’re not coordinated with the candidate being promoted.)
However, New Gloucester bucked fellow voters by opposing the three bond questions:
Question 2: $25 million bond for biotech and other research and development through Maine Technology Institute
| Question 2 Research and Development – $25 million | Yes | No |
| State | 55% | 45% |
| New Gloucester | 44% | 56% |
Question 3: $10 million for preservation and restoration of historic properties owned by government entities or nonprofits, through Maine Commission for Historic Preservation; requires 25 percent local non-tax match
| Question 3 Historic Preservation – $10 million | Yes | No |
| State | 51% | 49% |
| New Gloucester | 40% | 60% |
Question 4: $30 million for trails statewide (nonmotorized, motorized and multiiuse); requires match of $3 million in private or public contributions
| Question 4 Trails – $30 million | Yes | No |
| State | 55% | 45% |
| New Gloucester | 46% | 54% |
New Gloucester voters lined up closely with statewide results on Questions 1 and 5.
Question 1: Campaign finance reform – $5,000 limit for some political donations
| Question 1 | Yes | No |
| State | 73% | 27% |
| New Gloucester | 71% | 29% |
Question 5: Replace the current state flag with new Pine Tree Flag
| Question 5 | Yes | No |
| State | 45% | 55% |
| New Gloucester | 44% | 56% |
Results from Bangor Daily News with > 95 percent of Maine precincts reporting. Find detailed state referendum results for New Gloucester at this link — J.C.
