Maine Democrats pushing for a new wave of State House leadership and style lost the battle last weekend when their colleagues ratified the status quo.

The war isn’t over.

There is a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction within the party, and it is moving closer to a more important objective: changing process within the Legislature and offering all lawmakers a stake in the system.

The majority party endorsed House Speaker John Martin over Rep. Marge Kilkelly of Wiscasset. It wasn’t close, 71-18. But the decision to support Martin for a record 10th session as speaker in no way repudiates the message of his critics. Their principles and observations stand.

They want enlightened management — men and women who are capable of holding positions of power, but who are willing to spread it around.

They want leaders who are secure enough to include all lawmakers in the process of governing.

They want cooperation between the legislative and executive branches.

This translates into changes in committee organization, the election (rather than appointment) of committee chairmen, more opportunity to disagree with and challenge leadership without fear of banishment to some legislative gulag, and better organization of and access to the process of drafting and introducing bills.

Each session, the House and Senate bury themselves with more than 2,000 pieces of legislation. This statute-factory aspect of the Maine Legislature is not set up by rookies — newcomers have only until December to solve the mechanics of the process and submit proposals — it is the handiwork of experienced legislators. Time to retool the assembly line.

In the spirit of the weekend debate, the speaker acknowledged his personal contributions to refinement of process. But the caucus speeches and the aggressive behind-scenes lobbying that led to the first serious challenge to House leadership in 18 years are precursors to change in that institution.

The Maine House is in a classic political situation. It is tired as an institution. It is beleaguered by internal problems and worn down by chronic, unnecessary friction with the McKernan administration. It is about to undergo transition.

The speaker has a choice, to be part of the reform effort, or to impede it.

Martin says he favors reform. His critics — inside the party, and out — wonder whether someone who has been part of this process of slow disintegration of an institution for nearly two decades suddenly can become the architect of its reconstruction.