County sees few changes politically

ELLSWORTH – The political makeup of the Hancock County delegation won’t change dramatically with the results of Tuesday’s elections, although there will be a number of new faces filling the seats of legislators who were prevented from seeking re-election because of term limits.

County Democrats picked up a seat in the state Senate as Dennis Damon won the race in District 5. In a three-way contest, Damon received 8,489 votes, defeating Republican William Pinkham, with 7,073 votes, and Libertarian Richard Davis Hart, who received 1,439 votes.

Damon will fill the seat of Sen. Jill Goldthwait, the independent who could not seek re-election because of the state’s term limits.

Damon serves as a Hancock County commissioner and likely will step down from that post to serve in the Senate. Damon said Wednesday that it was his understanding that state statutes require him to vacate his seat on the county commission.

“My understanding is that you can’t do both,” he said.

If it comes to a decision, he said, he has not given it enough consideration at this time. Damon said, however, that given the amount of time and effort he has dedicated to the commission and the amount of time he’s seen state senators devote to their work, it is “doubtful” that he would be able to do both.

If he vacates his commission seat, the governor would appoint his successor based on a nomination from the county Democratic Party.

Republicans picked up the seat in the House as Robert Crosthwaite of Ellsworth won the seat vacated by Democrat Edward Povich. Crosthwaite defeated John Fink 2,388-1,391 to win House District 127.

Crosthwaite also holds an elected seat and is serving in his second term as a city councilor in Ellsworth. Crosthwaite said Wednesday he has not decided whether he will vacate the council seat now that he’s been elected to the Legislature.

“I really haven’t had time to think about it yet,” he said. “I want to wait to see what the schedule is like [in Augusta]. Until I have a better take on that, I don’t want to make a decision so I won’t be locked in.”

Newly elected representatives will be sworn into office Dec. 4, and the new Legislature will go into session early in January.

In a three-way race in District 128, Republican Eugene Churchill held onto the seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Royce Perkins. Churchill, a former state representative and Hancock County commissioner, defeated Democrat Jim Schatz and Green candidate Christine West.

West, the only Green candidate running in county elections, had a relatively strong showing, garnering approximately 14.6 percent of the vote. That was a higher percentage of the votes than the Green Independent candidate for governor, Jonathan Carter, who pulled less than 9.5 percent of the votes.

West’s tally, however, was well behind the two major-party candidates, with the winner Churchill receiving 2,069 votes to 1,950 for Schatz.

In House District 129, Democrats held onto the seat being vacated by Paul Volenik, another term-limited legislator. Hannah Pingree, daughter of defeated U.S. Senate candidate Chellie Pingree, defeated Frank Stanley, 2,530-1,575.

In the other vacant House seat in the county, in District 132, Republican Leonard Bierman won the race to replace Republican Rep. William Pinkham, who was prevented from running again by term limits.

Bierman received 1,944 votes to 1,897 for his Democratic opponent, William Stone.

Incumbents did well in the county on Tuesday. Rep. Richard Rosen won re-election to his seat in House District 113, defeating challenger Kendal Dunbar 2,337-1,076.

On Mount Desert Island, incumbent Democrat Theodore Koffman retained his seat in House District 130, defeating challenger Robert Stanwood, 2,450-1897.

Republican state Sen. Ed Youngblood retained his seat in District 6, defeating Charles “Dusty” Fisher by a vote of 7,890-7,304.

In Eastern Hancock County, where two House districts include towns in Washington and Penobscot counties, incumbent Democrats Edward Dugay and George Bunker retained their seats. Dugay was re-elected to represent House District 131 by a 1,844-1,245 vote over Alfred Moore; and Bunker held onto his House 136 seat with a 1,510-1,312 victory over Shawn MacDonald.