AUGUSTA – The job can be thankless, galling and all-consuming. The pay not that great and the hours can be grueling. Despite it all, hundreds of people are still seeking the job.
Wednesday was the filing deadline for party candidates hoping to enter the election-year fray. According to Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, 546 people filed for the June 13 primary for federal, state and county offices that will be filled by voters this year.
At the top of the ticket, Democratic incumbent Gov. John Baldacci faces a primary challenge from Christopher Miller of Gray. Three Republicans, state Sen. Peter Mills, state Sen. Chandler Woodcock and David Emery, will face off for the run for the Blaine House. Green Independent Pat LaMarche also filed papers to be in the race.
There are at least eight independents also seeking the office, including: Alex Hammer, Bangor; John Jenkins, Lewiston; David Jones, Falmouth; Barbara Merrill, Appleton; John Michael, Auburn; Nancy Oden, Jonesboro; Jeffrey Sanborn, Gray; and Shawn Loura, Portland.
Candidates not affiliated with a political party have until June 1 to file their nomination papers with the secretary of state.
For the state Senate, all the local races will be contested.
Senate District 10, Brunswick, Freeport, Harpswell and Pownal: Incumbent Democratic state Senate President Beth Edmonds, Freeport; Republican Patricia Stasinowsky, Pownal.
Senate District 11, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gray, Long Island, North Yarmouth and Yarmouth: Incumbent Republican Karl Turner, Cumberland; Democrat John Simpson, Cumberland.
Senate District 12, Casco, Frye Island, Raymond, Standish and Windham: Incumbent Democrat Bill Diamond, Windham; Republican Lani Kelly, Windham.
Senate District 13, Baldwin, Bridgton, Harrison, Naples, Sebago, Brownfield, Denmark, Fryeburg, Hiram, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris and Porter: Incumbent Republican David Hastings III, Fryeburg; Democrat Marjorie Medd, Norway.
Senate District 14, Andover, Bethel, Buckfield, Byron, Canton, Dixfield, Gilead, Greenwood, Hanover, Hebron, Mexico, Rumford, West Paris among others: Incumbent Democrat Bruce Bryant, Dixfield; Republican Leonard Greaney, Rumford.
Senate District 15, Auburn, Durham, Poland and New Gloucester: Incumbent Republican Lois Snowe-Mello, Poland; Democrat Donald Bernard, Auburn; Democrat Ed Desgrosseilliers, Auburn.
Senate District 16, Lewiston: Incumbent Democrat Peggy Rotundo, Lewiston; Republican Jay Taylor, Lewiston.
Senate District 17, Greene, Leeds, Lisbon, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Mechanic Falls, Minot, Sabattus, Turner and Wales: Incumbent Democrat John Nutting, Leeds; Republican Matthew McNally, Greene.
Senate District 18, Farmington, Industry, Kingfield, New Sharon, Rangeley, Wilton among others: Republican Walter Gooley, Farmington; Democrat Richard Holden, Wilton.
Senate District 19, Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath among others: Incumbent Democrat Arthur Mayo, Bath; Republican Paula Benoit, Phippsburg.
Senate District 21, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Pittston, Randolph, West Gardiner and Winthrop: Democrat Harvey Devane, Gardiner; Democrat Brian Rines, Gardiner; Republican Earle McCormick, West Gardiner.
In the House of Representatives, local races are also contested.
District 68, Auburn: Republican Michael Beaulieu; Democrat, Sheila Desgrosseilliers.
District 69, Auburn: Incumbent Democrat Deborah Simpson; Republican Geoffrey Wright.
District 70, Auburn: Democrat Mark Samson; Republican Guy Carrier.
District 71, Lewiston: Incumbent Democrat Elaine Makas; Republican John Babine.
District 72, Lewiston: Incumbent Democrat William Walcott; Republican Larry Poulin.
District 73, Lewiston: Democrat Richard Wagner; Republican Laurier Lachance.
District 74, Lewiston: Incumbent Democrat Margaret Craven; Republican John Painter.
District 75, Greene and Sabattus: Incumbent Republican Scott Lansley; Democrat Katheryn Marie Grefer-Kirkland.
District 80, Monmouth: Incumbent Democrat Nancy Smith; Republican Randall Greenwood; Republican George Thomson.
District 81, Leeds, Livermore, Livermore Falls and Wayne: Democrat Clark Souther; Republican L. Gary Knight.
District 87, Chesterville, Jay, New Sharon, Mercer and Starks: Incumbent Democrat Raymond Pineau; Republican William Reid.
District 89, Farmington and Industry: Incumbent Democrat Janet Mills; Republican Lance Harvell.
District 90, Phillips, Strong, Wilton among others: Democrat Maxine Collins; Republican Robert Thomas Jr.
District 91, Eustis, Kingfield, Rangeley, Bethel, Newry among others: Republican Nancy Bessey; Republican Mark Egeberg; Republican Harry Faulkner; Democrat Timothy Carter.
District 92, Weld, Andover, Byron, Rumford among others: Incumbent Democrat John Patrick; Republican Paula Smith.
District 93, Carthage, Canton, Dixfield, Mexico and Peru: Incumbent Republican Randy Hotham; Democrat Reginald Arsenault.
District 94, Buckfield, Hartford, Paris and Sumner: Incumbent Republican Bruce Hanley; Democrat Teresea Hayes.
District 95, Greenwood, Norway, Waterford and West Paris: Incumbent Republican Sawin Millett; Democrat Roy Gedat.
District 96, Minot, Turner and Hebron: Incumbent Republican Joan Bryant-Deschenes; Democrat Lawrence Sirois.
District 97, Brownfield, Fryeburg, Hiram, Porter and Parsonsfield: Incumbent Republican Roberta Muse; Democrat Marlee Turner.
District 98, Bridgton, Harrison, Lovell, Stow and Sweden: Incumbent Republican Richard Sykes, Democrat Sheila Rollins.
District 99, Baldwin, Sebago, Denmark, Cornish and Limington: Incumbent Republican Philip Cressey; Democrat Katherine Marie Smith.
District 100, Mechanic Falls, Otisfield and Oxford: Incumbent Republican James Hamper; Democrat James Bradley.
District 101, Poland, Casco and Naples: Incumbent Republican Richard Cebra; Democrat Thomas Bossie.
District 102, Standish: Incumbent Republican Gary Moore; Democrat Michael Shaw.
District 103, Poland, Frye Island, Raymond and Standish: Incumbent Republican John Robinson; Democrat Mark Gendron.
District 104, Lisbon: Incumbent Republican Robert Berube; Democrat Prudence Grant.
District 105, Durham, Lisbon and New Gloucester: Incumbent Republican Michael Vaughan; Democrat Christopher Rheault.
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