SCARBOROUGH — Town Councilor Shawn Babine announced his resignation, citing educational pursuits and an interim job as chief executive officer of the national Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity as the main reasons for his departure.
“I find the constraints of my studies and my interim assignment requiring me to focus less on town matters and as such, feel strongly that the citizens should have the opportunity to elect a committed public servant that will be a strong advocate for the town,” Babine said in a resignation letter received by the town last week.
Babine was first elected to the Council in 2002 for three-year term, was reelected in 2005, and resigned in 2007 with one year left on his second term. He was elected again in 2008. Babine has one year left in his three-year term of office.
Babine said his new position with the largest fraternal organization in the world, and the work he is doing on his doctorate in law and public policy through Northeastern University will both require him to travel frequently.
“I’m going to Cuba this October to look at the communist structure there,” said Babine, who is currently in Indiana where Tau Kappa Epsilon’s headquarters are located.
In the meantime, Babine said he would also be traveling to colleges all over the U.S. and Canada for Tau Kappa Epsilon, speaking to fraternities and meeting with alumni.
While the council rules do not have attendance requirements, Babine said he did not think it was fair to Scarborough residents to remain on the council when he would not be able to regularly attend meetings.
His resignation is effective immediately. The final year of Babine’s term will be up for grabs in the November election.
Nomination papers for the empty seat and two more three-year seats – currently held by Vice Chairwoman Judy Roy and Councilor Michael Wood – are available beginning Wednesday, Aug. 4, at the town clerk’s office. They are due back to the town clerk on Sept. 1.
Emily Parkhurst can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or eparkhurst@theforecaster.net
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