A three-person race for two positions with the Sewer District Trustees and a referendum seeking two minor changes to the town charter comprise the municipal election on the Nov. 8 Freeport ballot.

Candidates for two Town Council positions and two Regional School Unit 5 Board of Directors are running uncontested.

There are no local ballot issues in either Durham or Pownal.

In keeping with recent Freeport elections, the Sewer District is a point of interest. Incumbent Thomas Hudak, the treasurer, is on the ballot along with Earl Rowe Jr. and Timothy Whitacre.

Hudak, 69, seeks a third three-year term. One of his motivations, Hudak said, is seeing through a $2 million upgrade of the Frost Gully project on U.S. Route 1.

“We’ve got some major projects going on, which include installation of new pipe and a new pump station at Frost Gully,” Hudak said. “Plus we need upgrades at other pump stations, and pump replacements.”

Hudak said that the district has been a good steward for ratepayers. Rates are increasing by 4 percent this year, and another 4 percent next year. That averages out to $20 a year per household, he said. The Sewer District has won a a $1.1 million grant and has taken out a $2.1 million loan to help pay for needed upgrades to its infrastructure.

“We’ve had to repair expensive breaks on Route 1, and we had an expensive $715,000 fix at Porters Landing,” Hudak said.

Rowe, a longtime shellfish harvester, is running to be a trustee for the first time. He is employed by Yarmouth Community Services on its parks staff. Keeping the waters of the Harraseeket River and Casco Bay clean are his top priority, Rowe said.

“I’ve been clamming for 41 years, and I’m nearing the end for that,” said Rowe, 56. “But I want to make sure they keep the water clean – younger people are trying to make a living down there. I think they’re doing all right and I think things have gotten better. That’s my objective. There’s flats that aren’t open that maybe they could get open.”

Whitacre served as a Sewer District trustee from 2012-2014, and wants another go at it. A consulting geologist, Whitacre lives near the Sewer District plant in South Freeport.

“I like the idea of keeping the river as clean as we can,” Whitacre said. “The clammers come down in the neighborhood, the striped bass are there and the kids are down there fishing.”

Whitacre, 60, also wants to keep an eye on rates. The latest 4 percent hike is needed to keep up with infrastructure improvements, he said. He credits Lee Arris, Sewer District general manager, with maintaining a “top-notch” staff.

“Lee’s got good staffers – men who are keeping up with their credentials,” Whitacre said.

As for the town charter amendments on the ballot, both involve the circulation of petitions.

Residents voted in favor of one in June, but not enough showed up at the polls to make it valid. According to the amendment, residents would no longer have to go to the town clerk to sign petitions and petitions could be circulated around town. The change would bring the town in line with state law.

Voters favored that town charter amendment 1,091-168, but 1,413 votes are needed for the amendment to take effect. That amount equals 30 percent of the total votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.

The second proposed town charter amendment on the ballot would eliminate a provision that prohibits residents from signing more than one nominating petition for each elected office. The charter now states that no voter can sign more than one petition for each office to be filled, and should a voter do so, the signature on the first petition filed is voided.

Scott Gleeson and John Egan are unopposed for the two available Town Council seats. Gleeson, who represents District 1, is the council vice chairman. Egan, who will gain an at-large position, is head of lending at CEI of Brunswick. He will succeed James Hendricks, the former council chairman.

Valy Steverlynck will return for a second term on the RSU 5 board. Sarah Woodard will succeed Louise Brogan, who served on the board for a year as a replacement.

There is no one on the ballot to replace Michael Ashby on the Water District Trustees.

Freeport residents register to vote last Thursday at the Town Hall.

A closer look

Polling hours and locations for the Nov. 8 elections:

Durham: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Durham Community School

Freeport: 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Freeport High School

Pownal: 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Pownal Elementary School