Stage set for November battles

Tuesday’s primary races set the stage for what again is shaping up to be a fierce battle to claim a razor-thin majority in the Maine Senate this November.

“It’s a huge priority,” said Maine Democratic Party chairwoman Dottie Melanson, whose party holds a tenuous 18-17 edge. “It’s imperative we widen the margin.”

Although they must yield claim to the governor’s mansion – and most likely the House – for at least another two years, Republican leaders said the Senate was within reach because of voter dissatisfaction with the current Democratic majority’s inaction.

“The issues are on our side this time,” said Dwayne Bickford, executive director of the Maine Republican Party. “The voters clearly wanted property tax relief and the Democrats failed to deliver.”

With Tuesday’s primaries in the books, both parties have zeroed in on a handful of targeted races in hopes of claiming the Senate in November.

Among them is a Bangor-area Senate race featuring Joseph Perry, a termed-out state representative from the city’s east side, against Republican incumbent Sen. W. Tom Sawyer, who has represented the district for the past four years.

Based on unofficial results Tuesday, Perry handily defeated Jeff Lowell, also of Bangor, in his bid to challenge Sawyer.

Early in the day, Perry, despite a late start to his primary campaign, was upbeat about his chances against Lowell, and was already looking ahead to Sawyer.

“It’s a matter of who’s going to do the work. That’s me,” Perry said after greeting a trickle of voters at the town hall in Hermon, newly added to the district this year.

Sawyer, favored by the addition of the Republican-heavy Hermon, said Tuesday he would run on his voting record, which has earned him praise from environmental groups while at times putting him at odds with his own party leaders.

Looking ahead to November, Sawyer said the race would be between “two sons of Bangor.” But another Bangor son could play a role, he said.

“Part of it could be how much the governor sticks his nose in it,” Sawyer said, referring to Democratic Gov. John Baldacci’s public posturing as the first to sign Perry’s nomination papers.

Perry’s District 32 race was one of 36 contested legislative primaries decided Tuesday.

While statewide turnout hovered in the low teens much of the night, voters in Orono apparently didn’t get the message as 20 percent of the town’s registered voters turned out to decide a competitive Senate fight between Democrats George Jacobson and Elizabeth Schneider in District 30.

For weeks leading up to the primary, streets in the summer-subdued college town were lined with signs for both candidates. On Main Street, one woman’s lawn featured signs for each candidate within a few feet of one another.

Before heading to the polls, the woman, who preferred not to be identified, explained the reason behind her apparent dual allegiances.

“I just figured they both want to do it. Let’s see who wins,” said the woman, who later elaborated on her request for anonymity.

“It’s a small town,” she whispered through the screen door.

In the end, Schneider, a town councilor, defeated Jacobson, a college professor. Schneider will challenge Republican Rep. Anita Peavey-Haskell of Greenbush for the seat last held by Democrat Mary Cathcart, who was forced out by term limits.

Fifteen miles south in the race for the open District 33 Senate seat, Debra Plowman of Hampden bested fellow Republicans Russell Treadwell of Carmel and Kenneth Fredette of Newport for her party’s nomination. Republicans are banking on holding the seat, vacated by longtime Sen. Betty Lou Mitchell, who also was forced out under the state’s term limits rules. Plowman will challenge Democrat Jane Cronk of Hampden in November.

Meanwhile, in Washington County, it appeared Republican Kevin Raye will have an opponent in the District 29 Senate race, with Democrat Kim Bagley poised to earn enough write-in votes Tuesday to place her name on the November ballot. Bagley is the daughter of longtime lawmaker Martha Bagley, who died in 2002.

There were also several contested House primaries Tuesday, including a race between Democrats Mike Dunn and Torvic Vardamis, both of Bangor, for a chance to replace Perry in House District 18.

Based on unofficial results, Dunn defeated Vardamis 59 percent to 41 percent.