SOUTH PORTLAND — Nomination papers are available for November elections in South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough, where several current office-holders are not seeking re-election.

In South Portland, two at-large seats on the City Council are on the Nov. 8 ballot. 

After serving three consecutive terms – nine years – on the City Council, three-time South Portland Mayor Tom Blake will be termed out in November. 

Blake said Thursday he doesn’t think he will run for a seat on the council again in the future. “I am not one for always, biggest, best, tallest, (and) at this time, I do not plan on it, but I would never rule anything out,” he said.

The second City Council seat is held by Councilor Maxine Beecher, who intends to seek re-election. 

Beecher in May said she has a “very strong interest” in working with the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee as it relates to Mill Creek and Knightville, and is invested in helping reinvigorate the Thornton Heights neighborhood and clean up the city’s threatened watersheds. 

As of Thursday morning, however, she had not taken out nomination papers. 

The only other person who has taken out nomination papers is former Councilor Michael Pock. 

The South Portland School Board will also have two seats available, and no one, including incumbents Richard Carter, of District 1, and Sara Goldberg, in District 2, has taken out nomination papers. 

Nomination papers in South Portland require signatures from 100 registered voters and must be returned the city clerk’s office no later than 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12.

Scarborough

Two at-large seats on the Scarborough Town Council are on the ballot, and only one office-holder is seeking re-election. 

Councilor Jean-Marie Caterina, who will complete her first term in November, will not seek re-election. Instead, she said she will focus on her campaign in state Senate District 30, where she is the Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Sen. Amy Volk.

“I love the Town Council, (and) I would love to (keep) doing that,” Caterina said Thursday morning. 

She said she initially intended to seek both offices, but instead has decided to pursue only the Senate seat.

“I absolutely have enjoyed my work with the council, (but) it has been so frustrating as a councilor for three years, to have a legislative delegation that doesn’t support Scarborough,” she said. 

Council Chairman Bill Donovan has taken out nomination papers for re-election, as has former Councilor Jessica Holbrook.

There are also two vacancies on the Scarborough School Board, and no one, including incumbents Jodi Shea or Cari Lyford, has taken out nomination papers. 

There is also a vacancy on the Scarborough Sanitary Board of Trustees.

Nomination papers in Scarborough must be submitted to the town clerk’s office no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7. Candidates must provide signatures from at least 25 registered voters.

Cape Elizabeth

Like Caterina, Cape Elizabeth Town Council Chairwoman Molly McAuslan is not seeking re-election because she is also a candidate for the Legislature.

McAuslan, who is in her first term on the council, is running as an independent candidate in Senate District 29 against Sen. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, who is seeking a third term.

Republican candidate Daniel Fortin dropped out before the June 14 primary and was not replaced by the GOP. The district covers parts of Cape Elizabeth, South Portland and Scarborough.

McAuslan said she did not want to hold two offices at once.

“(Town Council) is hard work; it’s good work. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, but when I look at the issues at the state level, they seem more pressing,” she said.

Councilor Caitlin Jordan, who is also up for re-election in November, said she is undecided about seeking a third term.

Nomination papers for the two Town Council seats, as well as two on the School Board, became available Aug. 1 at Town Hall. So far, no one has taken out papers to run in any of the four local contests.

The School Board seats are held by Susana Measelle Hubbs and Michael Moore, neither of whom could be reached for comment.

Each seat is for a three-year term and papers require a minimum of 25 signatures and a maximum of 100. Papers are due back to the town clerk’s office by Sept. 9 at 4 p.m.

Alex Acquisto can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or aacquisto@theforecaster.net. Follow Alex on Twitter: @AcquistoA. Kate Gardner can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or kgardner@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter: @katevgardner.