AUGUSTA — Rep. Stanley Short, D-Pittsfield, announced Monday that he has started the process of leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an unenrolled representative.

Short told the Bangor Daily News that he notified House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, and House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe, D-Skowhegan, of his decision on Monday morning.

“After serving one full term and three months into a second term in the Maine House of Representatives, I have come to realize that positive results are more important than partisan battles,” wrote Short in a statement to the BDN. “I have also come to realize that a good idea should take precedence over rigid allegiance to any particular ideology.”

Short said he has filed the necessary paperwork at the Pittsfield Town Office to become an unenrolled voter and by extension, an unenrolled representative.

“This change will only serve to enhance my efforts to work with all political parties, putting partisanship aside, in an attempt to come up with positive solutions to Maine’s problems,” wrote Short. “If working together becomes the priority of the majority of members of the 127th Legislature, what can be achieved in the best interest of the Maine people is limitless.”

Short represents District 106, which includes Clinton, Detroit and Pittsfield in central Maine.

His defection from the Democratic party makes the balance of power in the House 78 Democrats, 68 Republicans and five unenrolled members.

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