CAPE ELIZABETH — Town Councilor Jamie Garvin, Valerie Deveraux and Jeremy Gabrielson received the most votes in a field of five candidates Nov. 6 for three seats on the Town Council.

Also on Election Day, voters overwhelmingly voted to have the School Department join the Greater Sebago Educational Alliance regional service center.

The 4,177 to 707 vote will put Cape Elizabeth in an alliance with Portland, South Portland, Brunswick, Westbrook, Cape Elizabeth, Gorham, School Administrative District 6 (Buxton, Hollis, Standish, Limington, Frye Island), Regional School Unit 14 (Windham, Raymond) and School Administrative District 15 (Gray, New Gloucester).

Superintendent Donna Wolfrom said in September that Cape Elizabeth will receive approximately $22,000 in additional state subsidy this year as a result of joining the center. Membership costs each district $1,000 per year.

The election for three open seats on the School Board was uncontested. Incumbents Heather Altenburg and Elizabeth Scifres ran unopposed for re-election; Laura DeNino was also unopposed in her bid for the seat vacated by John C. Voltz, who ran for Town Council.

According to unofficial results of the council election, incumbent Garvin received 2,869 votes; Deveraux received 2,796, and Gabrielson received 2,137. They defeated James C. Tasse, with 1,744 votes, and Voltz with 1,710 votes.

Two of the vacancies on the Town Council were the result of Chairwoman Jessica Sullivan and Councilor Sara Lennon not seeking re-election.

Lines to the Cape Elizabeth High School gymnasium often stretched down hallways and through the cafeteria. Town Clerk Deb Lane said the high turnout had been “literally nonstop since 7 a.m.”

Cape Elizabeth always has a high voter turnout, she said, but not usually to the level it saw Tuesday. According to the town website, a total of 5,736 Cape Elizabeth voters cast ballots – a 69 percent turnout. 

“This is unusual,” Lane said of the volume of voters at CHS at 2:45 p.m.

Voltz echoed that sentiment Wednesday, and said he was “gratified at the turnout” and extends his congratulations to the winners.

Garvin, who said Nov. 7 he is “very excited” to be re-elected to the council, also said it was “great to see” the steady stream of voters all day long.

He said some, however, had to wait in line for as long as an hour and a half to vote, which he wants to “do a better job” of avoiding in the future. He said he had already talked to Town Manager Matthew Sturgis about the issue.

Other issues he is looking forward to tackling in his next term, Garvin said, include working on the “home stretch” of drafting a new Comprehensive Plan, and how to best manage Fort Williams Park. 

He also said looking at how the town will “manage the need” to deliver services to residents, such as education, under what he called “incredibly stretched and strained” budgets, and reducing the tax burden, will be key.

Gabrielson said education and issues related to the environment as important to him. 

Deveraux said some key issues she hopes to address include parking at Fort Williams Park, paper streets, and the school budget.

She also said she would like to look at the idea of establishing a town center, and has heard concerns from constituents about the town’s recycling rate.

“I just want to really thank everybody for placing their trust in me,” Deveraux said. “I take that trust very seriously.”

Elizabeth Clemente can be reached at 780-9123 or eclemente@theforecaster.net. Follow Elizabeth on Twitter @epclemente. 

Cape Elizabeth High School was packed all day with voters on Nov. 6, according to Town Clerk Deb Lane. Voters re-elected Town Councilor Jamie Garvin, along with Valerie Deveraux and Jeremy Gabrielson.