Berwick elects incumbent Chase, newcomer Huestis to select board
Berwick Voters Elect Two New Select Board Members
BERWICK, Maine – The town’s select board will see a mix of experience and fresh perspective after Berwick voters chose incumbent Lisa Chase and newcomer Lisa Huestis for three‑year terms during Tuesday’s election. Official results were posted Wednesday evening, more than a day after the polls closed, following a brief hiccup in the ballot‑counting process.
The delay stemmed from a malfunction with electronic voting machines that required poll workers to resolve before the tally could proceed. Once the system was restored, election officials counted 698 votes for Huestis and 680 for Chase, securing their seats on the five‑member board.
Three challengers failed to gain enough support. Incumbent Jeffrey Brooks, who was also running for re‑election, finished third with 382 votes. Former candidate Noah Cobb, who had previously sought a seat last year, garnered 310 votes, while Ryan Michaels came in fourth with 254 votes.
In addition to the competitive race for the select board, 1,399 voters left that portion of their ballots blank, and 21 cast write‑in votes. Each voter was permitted to support up to two candidates on the ballot.
Outside the polling place on election day, Chase expressed confidence in her prospects and shifted focus to the concurrent school‑board contest. “It’s a great community, and (residents) support all the boards,” she said. “But right now, I think the school board has them pretty concerned.”
Huestis, who campaigned on a platform of community engagement, will take office when the fiscal year begins, while Chase will complete the remainder of her current term before entering a new three‑year cycle.
The select board election was part of a broader slate of 2026 contests in York County, where local officials also addressed school‑budget approvals and board membership changes. The Berwick race marks one of the earliest official results in the cycle, providing voters with a clearer picture of the town’s leadership outlook ahead of upcoming municipal meetings.
