Waterville Mayor Morris Defeats Challenger in Second Term Bid
Morris secured 4,022 votes against Boulerice's 2,012 in a contest centered on city management and budget priorities.
By Andrew Yang ·
Michael Morris retained his position as Waterville mayor on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Matthew Boulerice for a second consecutive three-year term. Unofficial counts show Morris winning with 4,022 votes, while Boulerice received 2,012. The city remains one of the few municipalities in Maine that utilizes party affiliations for local elections.
Boulerice, a real estate developer, framed the campaign around the city's recent performance. At a forum hosted by the Morning Sentinel last month, he asked voters to consider whether Waterville had become more affordable, safer, or more efficient over the past three years. He argued that the city needs a more aggressive approach to courting developers and greater accountability in handling addiction and homelessness issues.
Morris, a Democrat who works for Bank of America, countered that the city is in a recovery phase following frequent turnover among city managers. He maintained that careful leadership requires time to produce results. The mayor pointed to economic growth as evidence of progress, specifically citing Amazon’s planned facility on the Waterville-Sidney line.
The candidates also clashed on fiscal policy. In July, Morris vetoed the city’s budget, stating it relied too heavily on the city’s undesignated fund balance. Boulerice criticized that decision, claiming he would have prevented the City Council from passing a budget that required a mayoral veto.
This marks the second time in three years that Morris has defeated Boulerice. The mayor will begin his new term in January.
