11/21/2008
from the Kennebec Journal
Finding shelter for those who serve their nation
Immigrant recalls her special greeting
State gains $85M in Homeland Security funds
Man arrested after swerve toward cop
School unit in limbo
Rain? What rain?
LEE LATCHES ON WITH THOMAS
Modern camping equipment takes it to the extreme
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
Civil War-era flag finds honored position
Residents wonder if the rain will ever go away
FAIRFIELD Sewage plant rejection irks man
Winslow's fireworks guy doesn't mind the obscurity
At holiday derby, the fun is catching
Vets' champion 'very passionate' about her work
Hersom deals with change
Sandals work for outdoor types
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Kent said the selectmen "kicked 16-year veteran Carol Richardson out of the town office."
That's wrong. Selectmen cannot "kick out" a town clerk in Benton. It's an elected position, not appointed. Richardson chose not to run in 2006.
Kent refers to a "town clerk problem." What problem?
The current clerk has 20 years of municipal experience. She has more responsibilities and more technological requirements than any clerk in town history. In this year's presidential election, she processed 250 new voter registrations and over 400 absentee ballots (the most in town history) using the state's online Central Voter Registration system. She oversaw acquisition of a voting machine and ensured that she/her staff had the requisite training. The machine was flawlessly used for the first time in the November election with an 80 percent voter turnout.
The result? Candidates and local reporters commented that Benton was the first to submit vote tallies -- in one case, 90 minutes before any other town. Plus all birth, death and marriage license requests, dog licenses, boat/ATV/snowmobile registrations, hunting/fishing licenses, etc. are all handled in a totally professional and very timely manner.
Kent owes the selectmen, the town clerk and the citizens of Benton an apology for implying that there is a "town clerk problem" in Benton.
Shane Morrison
Winslow




Reader comments
Click here to view or add reader comments