Portland picks Green for legislative seat

PORTLAND – Maine’s largest city is sending a Green to the Legislature.

Green Party nominee John Eder became the first of his party to win a legislative seat by outpolling Democrat David Garrity 2-to-1 Tuesday in House District 31 in Portland’s West End.

The seat had been held by House Speaker Michael Saxl, a Democrat who was barred from seeking re-election because of term limits.

Eder said he received a congratulatory call from Ralph Nader, the consumer crusader and the 2000 Green Party presidential candidate, on Wednesday morning. He said he is the only sitting Green Party candidate in any state Legislature nationwide.

This was the fourth election in which a Green Party candidate had run in District 31. This time, Eder didn’t have to contend with Saxl.