It's Royce in a romp in Lebanon selectman's race

Royce Heath (Courtesy photo)

Editor's note: Harrison Thorp is the editor of The Lebanon Voice and wrote this report. He is quoted in this story.

LEBANON - Lebanon transfer station employee Royce Heath, in only his second run for selectman, trounced challengers Chip Harlow and Corinna Cole on Tuesday in what turned out to be a marathon Election Day for candidates, poll workers and the press.

Voting results weren’t available until nearly 11 p.m., but when they were finally announced it was Heath, 62, in stunning fashion garnering 435 of 947 votes cast, about 46 percent of the vote.

Heath, reached today up at the transfer station where he works about 20 hours a week, said he was grateful for all the residents who voted for him.

“I am very thankful for everybody who voted for me,” he said. “I spent a lot of time talking with people. I didn’t use Facebook or anything like that. I took it directly to the people.”

Harlow followed a distant second with 292 votes (31%) with Cole chipping in with 230 votes (24%).

Most referendum items passed, including one that authorizes sales of liquor at Lebanon taverns and bars on Sunday, 540-459.

However, the Mass Gathering ordinance was soundly rejected again by voters, 676- 261.

Shoreland Zoning fee changes (Yes: 319 No: 565), a $40,000 Rescue Department enterprise accounts subsidy (Yes: 430 No: 518) and a new fire truck (Yes: 361 No: 624) were also defeated.

Four new budget committee members were elected, including Jeri Basko: 486 votes; Becky Batchelder: 580; Karen Gerrish: 449; and Thomas Torno: 476.

Gilbert Gerrish was the lone budget committee candidate to fall short, with 380 votes.

In the Republican House 20 primary battle between former Selectmen Chair Karen Gerrish and Lebanon Voice editor Harrison Thorp, it was Gerrish pulling out the win, 310-207, about 60 percent of the vote.

The raw numbers from the race were: Shapleigh, Gerrish 30, Thorp 11; Acton, Gerrish 69, Thorp 41 and Lebanon, Gerrish 211, Thorp 155.

Gerrish’s numbers were weakest in her hometown of Lebanon (57percent). She was unavailable for comment today.

Despite the loss Thorp was upbeat.

"We were going up against an incumbent selectmen chair who is a lifetime Lebanon resident with an extended family who is a longtime teacher at the local school," Thorp said. "To get 40 percent of the vote in the primary is nothing short of spectacular under those circumstances.

"I am so proud of my team beginning with my significant other, soul mate and campaign manager Martha T. Soto-Galicia as well as all of my many boosters, including former planning board member Robie Marsters, former selectman Darryl Moore, campaign workers like Deb Wilson and many, many more.

I want to let them know I gave it my all, but they already know that. We almost pulled it off."

Democratic House 20 candidate Bettie Harris-Howard got 226 votes in an uncontested primary.

In the Democratic primary race for York County Sheriff, Bill King late this morning had an insurmountable lead over challengers Paul Maine and Dana Lajoie.