AUGUSTA (AP) – New Democratic and Republican lawmakers, preparing to be sworn in for two-year terms, gather today to discuss their choices for four key state offices that in many other states are filled either by gubernatorial appointment or general election.

For example, according to the Web site of the National Association of Attorneys General, the attorney general is popularly elected in 43 states and appointed by the governor in five, while in Tennessee the selection is made by the state supreme court.

Maine still leaves it up to the Legislature to elect an attorney general, as well as the state treasurer, state auditor and secretary of state.

Dominant since the 1980s, Democrats in legislative majorities have been giving the jobs to their favorites and this year hope to do so again. But now, with the Democrats holding bare majorities of 18 in the 35-member Senate and 76 in the 151-member House of Representatives, suspense is stirring in advance of Wednesday’s voting.

At a joint caucus of incoming Senate and House Democrats today, incumbent Attorney General Steven Rowe is all but certain to be renominated by his party. Two openings on the Democratic slate for constitutional officers are expected to produce nominations for two outgoing House members – Matthew Dunlap of Old Town for secretary of state and David Lemoine of Old Orchard Beach for treasurer.

Republican representatives- and senators-elect are also scheduled to meet in conference this morning and may consider putting forth nominees of their own.

Potential candidates are said to include former U.S. Rep. David Emery for secretary of state and, for state treasurer, outgoing state Sen. Richard Bennett of Norway and former state Sen. Norman Ferguson.

Maine’s two departing constitutional officers could be moving into prominent new state jobs. State Treasurer Dale McCormick and Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky are both winding up the fourth of four consecutive two-year terms, making them ineligible for re-election.

McCormick is viewed as a leading candidate to take over the reins at the Maine State Housing Authority. Gwadosky may be in line to head the state Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations.

Like McCormick and Gwadosky, state Auditor Gail Chase is precluded by term-limits from serving another term.

Members of the Legislature’s dominant party traditionally support their party’s nominees in elections for the three so-called constitutional offices and state auditor. This year, with Democratic margins of control so tight – and still tenuous, pending further review, in the House – an upset in some race or another cannot be ruled out.

State Rep. Philip Cressey, R-Cornish, thinks he could master the mathematics and muster the votes to become speaker, given the close Democrat-Republican split in the House. Majority Leader John Richardson, D-Brunswick, is the Democratic nominee.

The new House is slated to elect its speaker Wednesday.

AP-ES-11-29-04 1605EST