Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Ellsworth City Council Election 2026
2 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
Not sure who to vote for? Answer 6 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.
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How to vote · 11 days left
Last day to request an absentee ballot without a special circumstances application (Oct 29): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
City Council
Vote for up to 2- Tiffany Dilda-GasparTiffany Dilda-Gaspar owns a business consulting firm and a bar catering company. She has held no office in city government.10sourced
- Robert Grant Sr.Robert Grant Sr. owns and operates a small earthwork construction business and is semi-retired. He worked in retail for 24 years before starting his business and has never held public office.9sourced
- Casey HansonCasey Hanson is a family physician at the Trenton Health Center and chairs Ellsworth's Arbor Commission. She served as a City Councilor from 2021 to 2024.9sourced
- Nancy SmithIncumbentNancy Smith is completing her first three-year term on the Ellsworth City Council. She retired from a 45-year career that included forestry, farming, nonprofit management and service in the Maine Legislature.17sourced
Voters citywide may vote for two of the four candidates; two councilors are elected to three-year terms.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- Governor
- Rick Bennett · Independent
- Robert B. Charles · Republican
- Hannah M. Pingree · Democratic
- U.S. Senate
- Susan M. Collins · Republican
- Troy D. Jackson · Democratic
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
- Steven O'HalloranCity Councilor; term expires November 202712sourced
- Carol Patterson-MartineauCity Councilor; term expires November 202811sourced
- Patrick SheaCity Councilor; term expires November 202812sourced
- Marinna SmithCity Councilor; term expires November 202811sourced
- Tabatha WhiteCity Councilor; term expires November 202711sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01Budget and property taxes3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted a $29,317,004 city budget for FY2027 in June 2026 by a 5-2 vote.
What's on the tableThe next council will adopt the FY2028 budget, which sets how much is raised from property taxes.
- The council adopted the FY2027 budget of $29,317,004 on June 15, 2026, with Councilors Shea and O'Halloran opposed. City of Ellsworth · Jun 15, 2026
- A 3% across-the-board increase was applied to all property values, and the new tax rate is set at 16.25. City of Ellsworth · Jul 20, 2026
- The council awarded a $3,000,000 tax anticipation loan to Bar Harbor Bank and Trust at 4.72% interest. City of Ellsworth · Jun 15, 2026
02Roads and borrowing3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn September 2026 the council authorized up to $3,860,443 in general obligation bonds for road, sidewalk and other projects.
What's on the tableWhich projects in the capital plan to fund next, and whether to borrow for them.
- The bond package includes $1,183,260 for local roads, $127,183 for sidewalks and $1,750,000 for the Merrill Lane Extension. City of Ellsworth · Sep 8, 2026
- The package also includes a $750,000 city match for Bayside Road design and engineering, matched by $750,000 from MaineDOT. City of Ellsworth · Sep 8, 2026
- The council awarded the Bayside Road engineering contract to Sebago Technics for up to $267,540 by a 5-2 vote. City of Ellsworth · Sep 21, 2026
03Courthouse road (Merrill Lane Extension)4 sourced facts
Where it standsIn October 2026 the council awarded a contract of up to $1,633,545 to build the road to the new Hancock County Judicial Center site.
What's on the tableHow the city oversees the road project and pays for the debt.
- The council voted 4-1-1 on Oct. 6, 2026 to award the Merrill Lane Extension construction contract to RF Jordan. City of Ellsworth · Oct 6, 2026
- City staff reported expenditures on the project to date totaling $606,462.20. City of Ellsworth · Oct 6, 2026
- The city secured a $415,000 state reimbursement agreement from the State Judiciary for traffic and intersection improvements. City of Ellsworth · Oct 6, 2026
- The permanent road has a target completion date of Oct. 1, 2027. City of Ellsworth · Oct 6, 2026
04Land use and moratoriums3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council has enacted moratoriums on large-scale campgrounds and on data centers while the city updates its rules.
What's on the tableWhat rules replace the moratoriums, and whether to regulate short-term rentals.
- The council enacted a moratorium on large-scale campgrounds 4-3 on Aug. 31, 2026, after neighbors opposed a proposed RV campground on Bayside Road. City of Ellsworth · Aug 31, 2026
- The council adopted a data center moratorium with an immediate effective date by a 4-1 vote on Aug. 17, 2026. City of Ellsworth · Aug 17, 2026
- Feedback from a short-term rental listening session and online survey will be compiled for an upcoming council workshop. City of Ellsworth · Aug 17, 2026
1 note on these statements
Council Chair Patrick Lyons is not running again, so at least one of the two seats will go to a new councilor. The Ellsworth American · Oct 6, 2026
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. Is Ellsworth's current level of property taxation sustainable?
2. Should Ellsworth borrow through bonds to pay for its backlog of road, sidewalk and other capital projects?
3. Should the city pay to build the Merrill Lane Extension to the new county courthouse site?
4. Should Ellsworth pause large campground and RV park projects while it updates its rules?
5. Should Ellsworth pause data center development until it has rules in place?
6. Should Ellsworth track and regulate short-term rentals?
Key dates
- Absentee ballots available at the City Clerk's OfficeCity of EllsworthOct 5, 2026
- Last day to request an absentee ballot without a special circumstances applicationCity of EllsworthOct 29, 2026
- Election Day (polls open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)City of EllsworthNov 3, 2026
The seat math
5 stay (not up this year): Steven O'Halloran, Carol Patterson-Martineau, Patrick Shea, Marinna Smith, Tabatha White2 on this ballot
7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- Seven City Council members are elected to serve three-year terms. City of Ellsworth
- The Nov. 3, 2026 municipal ballot asks voters to choose two candidates for City Council, three-year term. City of Ellsworth · Nov 3, 2026
- The two seats up are held by Nancy Smith and Chair Patrick Lyons; Lyons is not running for reelection. The Ellsworth American · Aug 19, 2026
- Charlie Pearce is Ellsworth's city manager. City of Ellsworth · Mar 16, 2026
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