Democrats take all in state office elections

AUGUSTA – Democratic candidates once again swept all three constitutional offices Wednesday, in addition to the legislatively elected post of state auditor.

G. Steven Rowe, the outgoing Democratic House speaker from Portland, faced no opposition in his bid to become attorney general. Fairfield Democrat Dan Gwadosky was also unopposed in his re-election to another term as secretary of state.

State Treasurer Dale McCormick, a Hallowell Democrat, fended off a challenge by David Bourne, a Republican from East Winthrop. McCormick won re-election easily against Bourne, a former state controller, in a lopsided 111-69 vote.

Incumbent State Auditor Gail Chase, a Democrat from South China, was challenged in her re-election bid by Richard Foote, a Cumberland Center independent. She won another four-year term in office in a 104-74 vote. Foote is currently deputy auditor and was running against his boss.

“We all won,” said Foote in congratulating Chase.

“The Department of Audit, which is often overlooked, is more visible. The people of Maine now know what our mission is. I am pleased to have raised the level of expectations for what the department can and should do.”