AUGUSTA – The outcome won’t seriously alter the power relationship between majority Democrats and minority Republicans in the state House of Representatives. But for voters in five districts, Nov. 6 offers a midterm chance to choose a new voice in the capital.

The open seats result from three resignations and two deaths. Departed representatives were from Cornish, Lewiston, Mount Vernon, Dixfield and Greenville. Three of the seats had been held by Republicans, two by Democrats.

A year ago, in November 2006, statewide voters put 88 Democrats and 61 Republicans in the House, along with two independents.

As the openings now provide an opportunity for Democrats to widen the gap and for Republicans to narrow it, both side profess optimism.

Contrasts among the contests can be seen most clearly in House District 83 – comprised of Belgrade, Fayette, Manchester, Mount Vernon and Vienna – and in House District 72 – made up of much of downtown Lewiston.

Represented this year first by a Republican and then by a Democrat, both of whom died in office, District 83 cannot but be called a swing seat.

Democrats have nominated Pat Jones of Mount Vernon to succeed her late husband, Rep. Deane Jones.

Jones retired in 2003 after 24 years with the Maine Bureau of Health. She previously served on the school board for SAD 10 and District 42.

Republicans in House District 83 have chosen Clyde Dyar of Mount Vernon as their nominee. The owner of Meadow Brook Consulting providing businesses consulting services, Dyar is the director of Thomas M. Teague Biotechnology Center in Fairfield.

“My priority will be to improve the quality of life for people in District 83 by creating new jobs and by strengthening education,” he said in a statement.

The District 72 seat in Lewiston, has historically been a Democratic lock. It opened with the summer resignation of Democratic Rep. William Walcott, who subsequently was targeted by the state ethics panel for allegedly misusing public funds during his 2006 re-election campaign. His case has been referred to the Maine attorney general.

Democrats have nominated Mike Carey, who works in housing, as their candidate. Republicans are putting up David Hughes, a former computer programmer who has been an at-home father.

Both sides suggest there are overriding factors.

“Health care continues to come up as a major issue,” says Cummings. “And tax reform, I’d say in that order.”

In O’Brien’s view, “All of the candidates sound the same on this one. It’s the tax issue. … It’s the issue that’s foremost on people’s minds.”

In House District 93, which covers the towns of Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Mexico and Peru, Republicans have nominated Katherine Harvey of Dixfield in hopes of retaining the seat left vacant by the resignation of Republican Randy Hotham, also of Dixfield. Democrats nominated Sheryl Briggs of Mexico for the seat.

Harvey has worked as a mentor coordinator for Maine Big Bothers Big Sisters and grant manager for MSAD 21. Briggs is a veteran in local and county government.

The election in House District 27 – Abbot, Barnard, Beaver Cove, Blanchard Township, Bowerbank, Brownville, Cambridge, Elliottsville Townships, Greenville, Guilford, Kingsbury, Monson, Northeast Piscataquis, Northwest Piscataquis, Parkman, Plantation of Kingsbury, Sebec, Shirley, and Willimantic – will fill the vacancy left by the death of Republican Rep. Earl Richardson of Greenville.

Republicans have nominated Peter Johnson of Greenville, who holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maine and served 30 years in the U.S. Army.

Democrats nominated a former legislator, Sharon Libby Jones of Greenville, whose resume includes operating a small business with her husband and past service as executive director of the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce.

Making the race more complicated is the presence of a third candidate, independent Julius Erdo of Willimantic.

Republicans also hope to hold onto the legislative seat from House District 99, comprised of Baldwin, Sebago, Limington, Cornish and Denmark, where GOP Rep. Phil Cressey of Cornish resigned.

Republican nominee Ralph Sarty Jr. of Denmark serves as the chairman of the Denmark board of selectmen and is retired after working for the state police and Maine Warden Service.

The Democratic hopeful is Kate Smith of Sebago, a physical therapist at Bridgton Hospital who serves on the school board for SAD 61.

“We have five very strong candidates,” in most cases experienced campaigners, Cummings says. “They’re doing the work, they’re known in the community.”

Success at the polls, says O’Brien, “depends on who gets who out to vote.”

AP-ES-10-27-07 1100EDT

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