The deadline for filing to run for office is Monday.

AUGUSTA (AP) – Recent contests between Democrats and Republicans for control of the Maine Senate could hardly have been more competitive, and both sides are looking to familiar faces to bolster their chances in the latest showdown.

Partisan legislative candidates for this year’s elections have until the close of business Monday to file with state officials and, once again, Democrats are laying plans for extending their period of dominance – three decades now – in the state House of Representatives.

“We feel very good about our recruiting,” said Democratic House Speaker Patrick Colwell of Gardiner, who intends to seek election to the Senate.

For major party strategists, as well as advocates for the Green Independents, the opening steps toward success involve finding people willing to run for office and encouraging them to obtain qualifying petition signatures.

“Obviously, both sides are working hard trying to be certain that all of our candidates get their papers in,” Assistant House Minority Leader David Bowles, R-Sanford, said late last week as the filing deadline approached. “It’s the usual scramble.”

Democrats currently combine a hold on the Blaine House with control of the state Senate and House of Representatives for the first time since early 1987.

The Democratic edge in the Senate is a bare 18-17. In the 151-member House, Democrats claim 82 seats. Republicans hold 66, while there are two independent or unenrolled members and one Green. Twice in a row, Democrats and Republicans have battled to the finish in the fight for the Senate.

Two years ago, Democrat Christopher Hall of Bristol was finally seated after an election dispute to affirm a one-seat Democratic majority in the 35-member Senate chamber. Senate elections four years ago resulted in a 17-17-1 tie and led to an unusual power-sharing agreement between deadlocked Democrats and Republicans.

This time around, the Democratic Senate slate could include former legislators such as Barry Hobbins of Saco, Cushman Anthony of Falmouth, Bill Diamond of Windham, who also served four terms as secretary of state, John Nutting of Leeds, Richard “Spike” Carey of Belgrade and former House Speaker Elizabeth Mitchell of Vassalboro. Most had filed by the weekend.

“Some pretty serious candidates,” Colwell says.

In addition to Colwell, other incumbent Democrats who may try to move from the House to the Senate are Donna Loring of Richmond, Albion Goodwin of Pembroke, Nancy Sullivan of Biddeford and Joe Perry of Bangor.

Senate Republicans hope to get their own infusion of new blood from the House and may wind up pinning their hopes on House Minority Leader Joe Bruno of Raymond and a host of other incumbents: Mary Andrews of York, Anita Peavey-Haskell of Greenbush, Peter Mills of Cornville, Julie O’Brien of Augusta, Jonathan Courtney of Sanford, Lois Snowe-Mello of Poland and Russell Treadwell of Carmel.

Former Republican lawmakers eyeing return trips to the Legislature as part of the GOP Senate team include Robert Fisk of Portland, Robert Cameron of Rumford, Debra Plowman of Hampden and Dean Clukey of Houlton.

Also on the Republican roster of Senate candidates is Kevin Raye of Perry, who lost to Democrat Michael Michaud in the 2nd Congressional District race in 2002.

“People that want to make a change,” says Senate Minority Leader Paul Davis of Sangerville. “We want to win it outright this time so we won’t have recounts.”

The back-to-the-future flavor produced by former lawmakers on the comeback trail will be seen in House campaigns as well.

Ex-lawmakers interested in re-upping as Democrats include Herb Clark of Millinocket, Charles Fisher of Brewer, Sharon Libby Jones of Greenville, Joe Brooks of Winterport, David Bustin of Hallowell, Michael McAlevey of Waterboro and John Tuttle of Sanford.

Among Republican former legislators possibly ripe for returning are Catherine Lebowitz of Bangor, Vaughn Stedman of Hartland, Douglas Curtis of Rockland and Stedman Seavey of Kennbunkport.

The Maine supreme court made its final rulings on the decennial redrawing of state electoral districts last July. As part of its mapping, the law court limited the number of potentially paired state Senate incumbents to two – Davis, from Sangerville, and Democrat Stephen Stanley of Medway.

State lawmakers themselves approved remapping for the 151 House districts, potentially matching four pairs of incumbents in new districts in northern Aroostook County, the areas around Ashland and Skowhegan and in Portland.

Primary elections will be held on June 8.

Non-party candidates have until June 1 to file, according to the secretary of state’s office.

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