Nuggets from the notebook while wondering when the Maine Senate president will make his congressional run official …

Maine politicos long ago concluded that Senate President Kevin Raye, R-Perry, is planning a run at U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, in 2012.

It appears word is getting out. Last week the D.C.-based magazine Roll Call published a piece in which Raye acknowledged that he was “considering” the bid.

Maine political junkies don’t think Raye is considering it. They think he’s running, a proclamation echoed last week by Matthew Gagnon, the Republican insider who runs the Pine Tree Politics blog.

That view was shared by many in the State House this session, as they saw Raye as a thoughtful and respected leader during a session rocked early by turmoil.

In fact, Democrats and Republicans privately wondered if the Senate president’s political ambition was fueling his full-court press to gain legislative authorization for the Biddeford racino and partner facility in Washington County. Although that effort ultimately failed, some opined that Raye’s memorable exertion there, along with his successful push to alter the state’s school funding formula to benefit rural districts, would play favorably in the 2nd Congressional District.

There were other clues, specifically the consistent presence of Kathie Summers-Grice, the political consultant who served during Raye’s 2002 congressional run, a bid he lost to Michaud by just 4 percentage points.

Summers-Grice was often spotted with Raye this legislative session, particularly during the final months. Unlike Raye’s other communications staff, Summers-Grice isn’t a state employee. She’s an outside consultant who currently operates EatonRiver Strategies LLC.

According to Maine Ethics Commission disclosure documents, EatonRiver received $3,500 this year from the Maine Senate Republican Majority PAC for expenses accrued during the 2010 campaign. Neither the firm, nor Summers-Grice, were paid in the PACs latest quarterly filing.

So far Raye’s leadership political action committee, Responsible Action Yields Excellence (or R.A.Y.E), hasn’t made any disbursements to Summers-Grice or EatonRiver.

Yippey ki-yay, Arizona

The Legislature this session put the kibosh on a bill that would have allowed concealed weapon permit holders to carry guns in the State House.

Leadership spiked the bill in June. House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, said he didn’t think the measure would do anything to improve security at the capitol.

Skeptics said the decision was a political necessity given the arrest of Rep. Fred Wintle, R-Garland, who was accused of pointing a handgun at a man at a Waterville Dunkin’ Donuts.

Some have wondered if Wintle carried his gun inside the State House, which would be against the current rules.

Not so in Arizona, where some heat-packing lawmakers are allowed to bring their weapons into the capitol.

Arizona state Sen. Lori Klein, a freshmen Republican, takes that right seriously. Earlier this year Klein was embroiled in controversy when security stopped from carrying her pink-plated, laser-sighted .380 Ruger into the legislative chambers two days after the mass shooting in Tuscon. 

The story triggered the political theater that typically accompanies the gun debate.

The debate ratcheted up a notch this week after Klein was accused of pointing her loaded weapon at a reporter from the Arizona Republic. Klein denies the charge, saying she was just showing the reporter her gun.

The account appeared in the Republic as part of a series on the Arizona gun culture.

According to the story, Klein described the gun as “cute” as she unzipped it from a carrying case. She was sitting alongside the reporter and photographer on a leather couch just outside the Senate chamber.

The reporter claimed that Klein showed off the gun’s laser sighting by “pointing the red beam at his chest.” The gun reportedly had no safety, but Klein assured him not to worry because she didn’t have her hand on the trigger.

The story has made national headlines, but it’s unlikely Klein will face any charges or disciplinary action.

Interestingly, Arizona’s policy only applies to senators. Other officials and visitors are not allowed to carry guns in the state house.

Nine other states allow visitors to carry guns on capitol grounds.

Same-day signature update

The coalition attempting to repeal the new law banning same-day voter registration has a tall task ahead if it wants to get the initiative on the November ballot.

The group has until Aug. 8 to collect 57,000 signatures. Organizers say they’re making significant strides to reach that goal. However, they’re not saying how many signatures they’ve collected so far.

David Farmer, a spokesman for the group, said this week that hundreds of volunteers have helped the coalition hit its “internal” target, but that it wouldn’t release its numbers until it was ready to submit the signatures to the Secretary of State for final certification.

Farmer said the group is confident it will meet its goal. If it doesn’t, the coalition has said that it will bring the issue to the June 2012 ballot.

smistler@sunjournal.com

For daily political updates follow Steve Mistler and the Political Pulse on Twitter, twitter.com/stevemistler

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