Critics of the two-year-old consolidation law had hoped to convince Maine voters that the requirements to form larger unions didn't make sense for many smaller disctricts, and that it should not be mandatory. They also argued that the law has failed to show any real savings, and has actually cost some districts money. Supporters of consolidation say Mainers just didn't buy those arguments.

"It's not rocket science to know that if you go from 290 school districts down to 90 or 100, you're going to save money," says Newell Auger of the group Maine People for Improved School Education.

"We know that there are going to be benefits to education," Auger says. "We've seen that in the regional school units that have already formed and there's nothing -- and we said this consistently throughout the campaign -- there's nothing about a parent or taxpayer in East Millinocket that's any different from a parent or taxpayer in West Bath. They want what's best for their kids and they want their tax dollars spent wisely, and that's why the 'no' vote, ultimately, was successful."

Auger says he also believes Tuesday's vote is about more than just school consolidation. He says it's about the larger issue of moving Maine down the path of "right sizing" state goverment, an effort lead by Governor John Baldacci.

"We started it with Human Services and with jails, and now with school districts, and we've got more work to do, that's clear as well," he says. "But I think the significant part of this vote, and I think the margin of victory, demonstrates that Maine people believe that consolidation and these types of public policy inititiatives are the way forward -- in fact, frankly, it's our only option."

The two-year-old law, backed by the Baldacci adminstration, has been touted as a way to save money on administrative costs, by cutting the number of school districts from 290, down to just 90. Some districts have come together since the law was passed, but there are still well over 200 districts in Maine.

Opponents claim the law's failure to lower education expenses in some instances, while actually raising costs in others, is evidence that the state mandate is simply unworkable for a large segment of Maine communities. Former Stonington legislator Skip Greenlaw led the charge against the consolidation law, which continues to be ignored by more than 100 Maine school districts. Greenlaw could not be reach for comment last night.