AUGUSTA – Recognizing there’s power in numbers, 19 state legislators from Androscoggin County met Thursday and agreed to work together, regardless of party, to get more done for Androscoggin County.

The lawmakers elected Rep. Sonya Sampson, D-Auburn, as chairwoman and Rep. Bob Berube, R-Lisbon, as secretary.

Sampson told the group, which consists of three senators and 16 representatives, that one goal is to decide which issues the delegation can fight against or stand behind. The group will come up with a list at future meetings.

Sampson said she wants the delegation “to be a very bipartisan. I don’t think Androscoggin County residents are interested in petty politics. We really need to have ideas from both sides on what we’re going to do, and follow that.”

Berube agreed. “We have one of the largest delegations in the state. There are 10 Democrats and 9 Republicans, which is a good split.” There’ll be some disagreement on issues, but Berube said there will be much both sides can agree on.

In his view, the delegation has not been a strong one since 1980, when that delegation helped create Lewiston-Auburn College in what was then indoor tennis courts in Lewiston.

“I saw how much power the delegation had,” he said. Berube said he hopes to restore that effectiveness.

Sen. Peggy Rotundo called the spirit of bipartisanship a healthy sign.

Rep. Lillian O’Brien, D-Lewiston, said one idea will be to direct “special money” to service-center areas, such as Lewiston-Auburn, “because they provide the jobs and services to people in the outlying areas that utilize all that. There’s no way the money can come unless we vote it.”

Rep. Elaine Makas, D-Lewiston, asked members for input on her bill to improve water quality in the Androscoggin.

While a list of priorities is not yet developed, Sampson said one could be helping county government by looking at outdated laws. “For instance, they’re not allowed to set fees,” she said. The delegation plans to meet with Androscoggin County commissioners next week.

In addition to Sampson, Berube, Rotundo, Makas and O’Brien, the 19 delegation members – some representing only portions of Androscoggin County – are:

Rep. William Walcott, D-Lewiston; Rep. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston; Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello, R-Poland; Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds; Rep. Thomas Shields, R-Auburn; Rep. Deborah Pelletier-Simpson, D-Auburn; Rep. Pamela Smith, D-Monmouth; Rep. Scott Lansley, R-Sabattus; Rep. John Robinson, R-Raymond; Rep. Joan Bryant-Deschenes, R-Turner; Rep. Michael Vaughan, R-Lisbon; Rep. Rodney Jennings, D-Leeds; Rep. James Hamper, R-Oxford; and Rep. Richard Cebra, R-Naples.

All attended Thursday’s meeting.