GOP caucus in House fills leadership posts

AUGUSTA – Incumbent minority floor leader Joe Bruno of Raymond was routinely chosen for a second term as the leader of the House Republican caucus Friday, but the selection of a deputy was anything but routine.

“Well, the recounts have nothing on us. We actually have a tie vote,” Bruno told new lawmakers after the tally expected to award the open slot failed to do so.

In the end, the survivor of the friendly three-way contest for assistant Republican floor leader was David Bowles of Sanford.

Bowles will succeed Rep. William Schneider of Durham, who is joining the U.S. attorney’s office.

Bowles defeated Roderick Carr of Lincoln, who was eliminated when he finished third in the first round of balloting, and Richard Rosen of Bucksport, who split the vote equally with Bowles in the first runoff tally, and then lost on a third ballot.

Final voting results by 66 GOP caucus participants were not disclosed.

Unanimously awarded the top caucus post, Bruno pledged to build on Republican gains in the most recent House elections and predicted that the GOP could win a majority of seats in the 151-member chamber two years from now.

He also identified the upcoming task of redrawing Maine’s political boundaries to reflect population shifts in the last decade as a top priority.

“Redistricting is going to be one of our biggest challenges next year,” Bruno told rank-and-file Republicans.

Bruno said the minority GOP bloc must stake out clear positions to offer alternatives to the Democratic majority and that Republicans must get their message out to the public effectively.

In both regards, he suggested, Republicans may not count on much help from the media.

When it comes to Democrats, he said, “we need to hold them accountable because we have a press that doesn’t hold them accountable.”

And in battling the majority opposition, Bruno said Republicans must understand whom they are facing.

“To the Democrats, it’s all about winning. It’s not about integrity and ethics,” he said.

Democrats have held the upper hand in House elections since 1974.

On Friday, two recounts conducted under the supervision of the Secretary of State’s Office confirmed victories by Republican House candidates Maitland Richardson of Skowhegan in House District 81 and Rep. Arlan Jodrey of Bethel in House District 65.

Richardson defeated Democratic Rep. Richard Tracy of Rome by five votes. Jodrey beat Democrat Shirley Powell of Hanover by 45 votes.

Pending another recount, the political composition of the incoming House of Representatives on Friday stood at 80 Democrats, 67 Republicans, one Green Independent Party member, and three independents.

Slated for Tuesday is a recount of balloting in House District 133, where preliminary tabulations showed Democrat Edward Pellon of Machias with 836 votes, Republican Christopher Paul Cambron of Jonesport with 724 votes, and Democratic write-in Kim Bagley of Machias with 671 votes.