AUGUSTA — With new Democratic majorities elected to the Legislature, three of Maine’s most prominent offices — treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general — are suddenly in play.
The majority party gets to elect the three so-called constitutional officers, who won’t be elected until after the new Legislature is sworn in Dec. 5. But Tuesday’s election was barely over before names of Democratic candidates started to surface.
Former attorney general Janet Mills said Wednesday she’d like to return to the post she held for one term.
“Yes, I’m running. I loved the job,” said Mills, who was also a district attorney for three Maine counties for 15 years and served in the House. She is now vice chair of the state Democratic Party.
Mills faces a challenge by trial lawyer Timothy Shannon of Yarmouth, who like others seeking constitutional offices helped Democratic legislative candidates during their campaigns in order to build support.
“The attorney general’s office needs new leadership, new energy, and new ideas,” Shannon said in an email. “In areas like consumer protection, environmental protection, and financial industry regulation, the office should be playing a more active role in helping to implement the Legislature’s laws.”
Former secretary of state Matthew Dunlap is expected to be a candidate for that job, which he was forced to vacate when Republicans won a legislative majority in 2010. Now, Republican Secretary of State Charlie Summers’ two-year term is ending. Summers was a U.S. Senate candidate this fall but lost to Angus King on Tuesday.
Former state representative Jeremy Fischer of Portland, a corporate lawyer and former legislator, is a candidate for treasurer.
Fischer said his experience on the state budget-reviewing Appropriations Committee during his House service gives him financial experience to serve as treasurer. Fischer said that is bolstered by his legal and political experience. Fischer served two terms on the Appropriations panel, one as House chairman.
The current constitutional officers are Summers, Treasurer Bruce Poliquin and Attorney General William Schneider, all Republicans.
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