BRIDGTON — Bridgton area Democrats, and those interested in electing Democrats, are invited to a kick-off meeting for the 2010 campaign season, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Bridgton Community Center. The event is co-sponsored Cumberland County Democrats and Oxford County Democrats.

Candidates for governor who have confirmed their attendance are John Richardson, Steve Rowe and Rosa Scarcelli. Libby Mitchell will have a representative present.

The event will also serve as an organizational meeting for the Bridgton Democratic Committee and provide an opportunity to elect town committee officers and delegates to the state convention May 21 and 22 in Lewiston.

State Senate District 13 candidate Laura Ordway of Bridgton and House District 98 candidate Lisa Villa of Harrison will be collecting nominating petition signatures and Maine Clean Election qualifying signatures. Both districts include Bridgton and other Lakes Region towns, as well as towns in Oxford County. Legislative leaders from the House and Senate have been invited, and Majority Whip Seth Berry has confirmed that he will attend.

Rep. Mark Bryant of Windham will attend, and other Democratic candidates from the region are also welcome to attend.

Former Maine Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings of Portland will be a special guest and offer remarks in support of Laura Ordway and Lisa Villa. Cummings is deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education.

Stephen Bloom and Michael Shaughnessy of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee Executive Committee and Cathy Newell, chairwoman of the Oxford County Democrats, will attend.

Refreshments will be served and there will be time for networking.