Backer, Mowles newcomers on Town Council

Cape Elizabeth voters unseated one incumbent and elected two newcomers to the Town Council in municipal elections May 6.

David Backer, current chairman of the Cape Elizabeth Zoning Board, was the front-runner for Town Council in Tuesday's election.

Backer, incumbent Carol Fritz, and newcomer Michael Mowles were elected to the three open seats on the council.

Henry Berry, the other incumbent in the five-way race, failed to gain re-election. Challenger B.J. Nicholson also failed to gain a seat.

In the uncontested races for School Board, incumbents Elaine Moloney and Kevin Sweeney were both re-elected, along with newcomer Ann Belden. Moloney garnered the most votes of any in either election, with 1,396.

Turnout was 1,788, or 23.01 percent. Town Clerk Jackie Coy said the flow of voters was steady all day long, and that although the numbers were high for a municipal election, they were expected because of the contested races.

Here is how the vote went:

Town Council No. of Votes
David J. Backer

1,286
Carolyn M. Fritz (incumbent)

1,037
Michael D. Mowles, Jr.

928
Henry N. Berry III (incumbent)

845
Bryant J. Nicholson

792
School Board
Elaine S. Moloney (incumbent)

1,396
Anne B. Belden

1,389
Kevin P. Sweeney (incumbent)

1,362
More: Elections Results History