LINCOLN, Maine — As nomination papers officially became available this week for the upcoming November 4, 2025 General and Municipal Election, longtime resident and vocal fiscal conservative Lee Rand wasted no time in declaring his candidacy for the Lincoln Town Council, submitting his papers at the Town Office early Tuesday morning.
In a public statement, Rand wrote:
“Because of the encouragement of many area residents, and much prayerful consideration, I am announcing my candidacy for the Lincoln Town Council in the November election. I submitted my nomination papers at the Lincoln Town office this morning.
Many of you, myself included, were shocked at the latest round of property tax increases last fall. The tax and spending of the Lincoln Town Council has gotten out of hand! Many of our elderly citizens, and especially those on fixed incomes, are adversely affected and I believe enough is enough. This can’t continue. The Town Budget is, in my opinion, the most important issue facing the Town Council, BUT not the only problem area.”
Rand went on to highlight that four council seats are up for election this cycle — an opportunity, he says, for the people of Lincoln to make a major change in the town’s fiscal direction.
Seats Up for Election
According to the Town of Lincoln, the following seats will be on the ballot this November:
- (3) Three-Year Terms – Town Council
- (1) One-Year Term – Town Council (to fill the seat vacated by Councilor McCarthy)
- (3) Three-Year Terms – RSU No. 67 School Board
- (2) Three-Year Terms – Lincoln Sanitary District
Nomination papers are available at the Town Office, and residents interested in running must collect at least 25 signatures from registered Lincoln voters and return their papers by September 5, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
What Does the Town Council Do?
The Lincoln Town Council is the primary governing body of the town. Its responsibilities include:
- Overseeing town finances
- Appointing and confirming the Town Manager
- Setting town policy
- Representing the interests of Lincoln citizens
Candidates must reside in Lincoln and cannot have a spouse employed by the Town.
Council meetings are typically held on the second Monday of each month, barring holidays or special events.
Council Under Scrutiny
The timing of this election comes amid rising frustration from many residents about the current town leadership’s decisions — particularly around budgeting and taxation.
Town Manager Richard Bronson, who recently received a one-year contract renewal and substantial pay raise, has come under intense public criticism following a series of inflammatory comments that he gave the Lincoln News back in January after Lincoln refused to answer a neighboring town’s 911 call that resulted in the death of a Macwahoc woman.
Despite public outcry and calls for an apology, Bronson has refused to walk back his statements. Instead, he has chosen to launch personal attacks against the editor of DavesPaper.com | Lincoln Edition — the very platform that brought his comments into the public spotlight.
Lincoln Town Manager Richard Bronson, recently renewed with a substantial pay raise amid public criticism.
The Town Council voted 5–2 to approve Bronson’s renewal. Those in favor included:
- John Trask (Term expires 2025)
- Stephen Clay (Term expires 2027)
- Jared McCarthy (Term expires 2026)
- Daniel Summer (Term expires 2025)
- Gordon Street (Term expires 2026)
Voting against the renewal:
- Sheldon Hannington (Term expires 2027)
- Marcella Ireland (Term expires 2025)
Rand was blunt in his criticism, stating:
“The Town Council’s willingness to reward poor leadership while our taxes skyrocket is exactly why I’m running. We need new leadership that puts people ahead of politics and fiscal responsibility at the center of our decisions.”
Upcoming Candidate Interviews
As part of our commitment to holding public officials accountable, DavesPaper.com | Lincoln Edition will be interviewing each of the candidates running for the four available Town Council seats. We aim to find out who among them will exercise fiscal discipline, protect our most vulnerable, and restore public trust.
Stay tuned for our exclusive interviews and in-depth election coverage. Candidates may contact Davespaper.com|Lincoln Edition to schedule an interview by sending an email to: editor@Davespaper.com.
For ongoing updates and candidate spotlights, visit DavesPaper.com | Lincoln Edition.
For more information regarding running for any available seats this November, contact Town Clerk Ann Morrison at ann.morrison@lincolnmaine.org or call the Town Office at (207) 794-3372.
