Here’s who’s on the ballot for Saco school board

Saco Votes on School Board in a November Ballot That Will Shape Local Education

Nov. 3, 2026 – Saco, Maine – As Saco residents cast ballots for a host of local, state and federal contests on Nov. 3, three seats on the city’s school board will also be decided. The election pits a mix of seasoned incumbents and fresh faces who say the current board has not listened enough to teachers and special‑education staff.

The city’s school board is elected by ward, with each ward choosing one member. For this cycle, Ward 2’s race is the only one that will see a contest, while Ward 4 and Ward 6 have challengers vying for the two incumbent seats.

Ward 2: A Clash of Experience and Advocacy

Incumbent: Jennifer Preble
Challenger: Arianna Parks

Jennifer Preble, a licensed social worker whose father taught at Thornton Academy, is seeking her third term. She has served as vice‑chair and previously as chair of the board. In her response to the Press Herald Voter Guide, Preble said her priorities were “making sure that Saco has educational programming that fits students’ needs and equity for all students, especially students living in poverty.” She also emphasized “adequate and balanced funding” and noted that “Saco families are ‘feeling the cost of everything’ these days.”

Arianna Parks, a special‑education professional, entered the race to give special‑education students and staff a stronger voice. She said she was motivated by a need to address “the high turnover rate among ed techs and examine the subcontracting of special‑education professionals” and how it affects consistency of care for students.

Ward 2 covers the area closest to Scarborough, including the Saco Heath Preserve, and voters will decide whether to keep a familiar face on the board or bring in a new advocate for special‑education services.

Ward 4: One‑Man Campaign

Candidate: Donald Pilon

Ward 4’s only candidate is Donald Pilon, a real‑estate broker who served as Saco’s mayor from 2013 to 2015 and has four terms as a Democrat in House District 131. In the voter‑guide response, Pilon stressed the importance of “ensuring staffing levels are sufficient to keep educators’ workloads manageable,” “making responsible financial decisions,” and “providing professional development opportunities for school‑board members.” He said that “the education of Saco students is ‘the most important charge’ of city government,” and that his experience in state and local government would help the board’s mission.

Current Ward 4 member Kevin Roche is not seeking reelection, leaving the seat open. Ward 4 covers the oceanfront section of Saco and is a critical area for both residential and tourism communities.

Ward 6: A Battle for Leadership

Incumbent: Sarah Truman
Challenger: Maureen “Moe” Cahill

Sarah Truman, a photographer whose mother was an educator, has served on the board since 2020 and was elected chair in 2025. She said that her top priorities are “seeing construction of the new elementary school through to completion, keeping the budget balanced, and ensuring equity for all students.” Truman also added that she hopes to champion “meaningful raises for staff while maintaining a balanced budget for taxpayers.”

Opposing Truman is Maureen “Moe” Cahill, an occupational therapist who has spent 24 years working in Cape Elizabeth schools. Cahill told the voter guide that she has “heard a strong desire for thoughtful leadership and a willingness to see positive change in Saco schools.”

Ward 6 covers part of downtown and is a key battleground for those who want to shape the city’s educational future.

The Bigger Picture

The Saco school‑board races come at a time when parents and teachers have called for more representation on the board. Two educators—Preble and Parks in Ward 2, and Truman and Cahill in Ward 6—have positioned themselves as champions for teachers’ voices and special‑education services.

Voters in all three wards will weigh the experience of incumbents who have already set policy directions against newcomers who promise to address gaps in representation and staffing. The outcome will have lasting implications for budgets, new school construction, and the equity of services across the city’s schools.

Saco’s election day will feature other local, state and federal races, but the school‑board contests highlight how local governance directly influences the quality of education for the city’s children.

For those planning to vote, the city will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, with polling places located throughout the wards. As the city’s children and families look to the future, the choices made on that day will help shape whether Saco’s schools keep pace with the evolving needs of its students.