Penobscot County Voters Reject Jail Relocation by Just 136 Votes
Voters in Penobscot County, Maine, rejected a plan to build a new jail and relocate the county jail by a margin of only 136 votes. According to unofficial results released Nov. 6 by County Commissioner Blair Tinkham, 32,503 votes were cast against the plan and 32,367 in favor. The county commission had planned to build the new jail in Hampden, a move that required voter approval to relocate the jail out of the county seat of Bangor; the rejection shelves the relocation plan.
The jail relocation was among the most closely watched local issues in this Penobscot County election. Supporters argued the existing jail is aging and needs expansion, while opponents questioned the new site and the cost. After the results were announced, the county commission had not said what comes next: whether to keep using the existing facility or draft a new proposal for another vote remains to be decided.
Other local results announced the same day included voters in eight Maine towns approving measures to limit or freeze rents in mobile home parks, and Governor Janet Mills and Governor-elect Hannah Pingree said their teams are working closely together to ensure a smooth handover early next year.
(Source: Penobscot County Commission)
Source: Penobscot County Commission
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：缅因州班戈市。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，授权见图页。 / Photo: Bangor, Maine. Source: Wikimedia Commons (license on file page).
