By Renee Worthing
Register Reporter
     Black felt-tip pens and little ovals were the tools of the people’s voice during the Sanford Municipal Elections on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
   Sanford Councilor Bradford Littlefield was re-elected to the town council with a total vote of 1,476 while Councilor Kevin Chabot was also re-elected with a total vote of 1,584.
   Leonard Mustachhio who earned 775 votes and Robert Stackpole who received 1,100 votes, were defeated.
   Sanford Finance Committee Chairman Alan Walsh defeated his opponent Everard Lenwood Horr for an unexpired town council term with a total of 1,806 votes.
   Helen Wilkins, in contention for one of three three-year finance committee seats earned 1,759 votes, followed by John Greenlee’s 1,692 votes.
   Matthew Treadwell, also running for finance committee, defeated Margaret Trowbridge by 243 votes.
   Following a day of handshaking at the polls, Walsh and Littlefield sat in the council chambers after the polls closed at 8 p.m., waiting for the final tallies from the seven voting districts in Sanford.
   Despite not having placed signs with his name on them all over town, Walsh said he was feeling optimistic in his bid for Councilor Gary Lamb’s unexpired council seat.
   “I feel people know who I am. They either like me or they don’t, they’ll either vote for me or they won’t,” Walsh said.
   He said if he were elected to the town council, he would resign his seat as chairman of the Sanford Finance Committee.
   “David Nickerson will move up until the end of the year,” Walsh said. “They will have an organizational meeting at the beginning of the year.”
   Littlefield was also feeling optimistic in his bid for another three-year town council term.
   “I’ve done all I can do,” Littlefield said. “When they (voters) shake your hand, look you in the eye and say your first name, it’s your vote.”
   After the winners were announced, Walsh said he was happy with the outcome.
   “Obviously, I’m pleased. I’m totally humbled and honored to go back and serve with the town council. I’m pleased Brad (Littlefield) and (Kevin) Chabot were re-elected. There is a lot of work to do ahead of us,” Walsh said.
   He said he has been “keeping in the loop” of the council’s activities.
   “I’m pleased, overjoyed,” he said. “I’ll do my best to represent the people that elected me and not disappoint them,” Walsh said.
   He said his concern was the ability of the “elderly and poor” to afford taxes. He also said he wanted the council to “look at being self insured.”
   “I think there are huge savings there,” he said.
   Walsh’s first town council meeting was slated for Nov. 13.
   Littlefield said two weeks ago he was unsure of what the elections results would be, but said he worked hard in the week before the election.
   “The results show the effort put forth,” he said. “My campaign has been upbeat and positive. I will still represent those that did not support me.”
   He said he would continue to work on issues of economic development.
   “Economic development is the only way Sanford has to resolve property tax woes and ensure quality of life by bringing better jobs,” he said.
   He also said he would work “very hard” with the council to implement the planning process for a turnpike spur to Sanford.
   Kevin Chabot was out of town on special K-9 training for the Wells Police Department for more than two weeks prior to the election. From Mechanicsburg, Penn., he relied on phone calls from friends and family to keep him abreast of election results.
   Reached by telephone just before midnight, Chabot said he was “really excited.”
   “I was a little surprised,” he said.
   He said he thought his two-and-a-half week absence might have hurt him at the polls, but he said he was “ready to come back and get back to work.”
   He said he planned to continue working to increase the tax base with the “right kind” of economic growth.
   He said economic development would bring “good paying jobs and increase the median income.” He also said he wanted to couple economic growth with an increased awareness of public safety.
   “I had a lot of motivation throughout the campaign,” he said. “I had a lot of good ideas and perspective.”
   At 26-years-old, Chabot is the youngest member on the town council.
   “A fresh face on the council is not a bad thing. I have no prejudice, no preconceived notions,” he said. “I’m just excited.”
   Chabot said he would be back in town for the Nov. 13 town council meeting.
   “I’m excited to work with Alan (Walsh), but it will be sad not to see Gary Lamb,” Chabot said.
   Chairman Anne Marie Mastraccio, who was also in the council chambers while the tallies were being posted, said the re-election of Chabot and Littlefield was an indication of the public’s confidence in the composition of the council.