Coveted inaugural tickets headed to Maine

AUGUSTA – Maine political activists who have dibs on a limited number of tickets to events surrounding the inauguration of George W. Bush in Washington were waiting for the mail to arrive Monday and Tuesday.

For top elected officials and campaign workers, the invitations were there or on their way. For those lower in the political pecking order, it was a waiting game to see what the postal carrier brought.

Senators and members of Congress are allocated blocks of tickets to distribute for the swearing-in ceremony itself, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Susan Collins was given 365 tickets for standing room and 28 tickets for seats at the inauguration, said Felicia Knight, spokeswoman for the Maine Republican. As of Monday, 280 tickets had been given out.

“People are calling us, making requests,” Knight said, adding that those looking for admissions were being asked to personally pick up their tickets rather than have them mailed out for fear they might get lost.

U.S. representatives each get nearly 20 tickets for seats and 180 for standing room at the swearing-in, said a spokesman for Rep. John Baldacci. The Maine Democrat plans to attend the event, said spokesman Doug Dunbar.

As for special events leading up to Bush’s oath of office and the inaugural balls to be held afterward, lists have been compiled of who should have priority for tickets, and Bush-Cheney campaign workers are at the top.

As governor, Angus King gets an invitation to the festivities in Washington, and Maine’s independent chief executive plans to attend the swearing-in with his wife and two young children.

King and Maine’s first lady, Mary Herman, may also attend other formalities while they are in town, said King spokesman Tony Sprague.

“He and Mary view this as probably their last chance to get good seats and good parking,” Sprague said, paraphrasing a comment by the governor last week. King says he has no political plans after his second term ends.

Also planning to attend is Ross Connelly, who headed the Bush-Cheney campaign in Maine. Bush and vice presidential running mate Dick Cheney lost in Maine in the Nov. 7 election.

Connelly, of Biddeford, said invitations for the special events are being mailed out of Washington after his list of campaign workers and other supporters from Maine is reviewed and added to the national list.

Inaugural planning time has been compressed due to the ballot recounts in Florida, but invitations were expected to arrive Monday and Tuesday in Maine, Connelly said.

“We were just overwhelmed with requests,” said Connelly, who plans to take a couple of days and drive to Washington with his wife for the inauguration and a ball. Ticket holders from each state are asked to attend one of several balls planned around the capital.

Connelly’s ticket came by virtue of his status as an elector for Bush, even though he never got to exercise that role.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee has picked as a theme for the events “Celebrating America’s Spirit Together.”

Other events will include Laura Bush celebrating America’s authors, Cheney saluting veterans, a concert celebrating America’s youth and the inaugural parade. Some of the events include standing or viewing space for the public not requiring a ticket.