Election panel begins its task Close House votes to be reviewed

AUGUSTA – A newly constituted committee of the Maine House of Representatives holds its first meeting today to prepare for a review of three disputed House district elections.

Panelists were named on Wednesday, when the new Legislature was sworn in. The eight-member committee, composed of four Democrats and four Republicans, will be led by Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington.

Other members of the House Elections Committee include Democrats Stan Gerzofsky of Brunswick, Patricia Blanchette of Bangor and William Smith of Van Buren, and Republicans Joshua Tardy of Newport – who is the assistant Republican floor leader – Roger Sherman of Hodgdon, David Ott of York and Kevin Glynn of South Portland.

Election night tallies gave Democrats a bare majority of 76 in the 151-member House, with Republicans taking 73 seats. One seat is held by a Green Independent and one by a lawmaker not enrolled in any party.

Post-election challenges, however, have left three races unresolved.

Democrat Michael McAlevey of Waterboro came out of Election night with a 13-vote lead over Republican Lawrence Jacobsen of Waterboro. Republican Jayne Crosby Giles of Belfast led Democrat Walter Ash of Belfast by 13 votes after the election night counting. Republican Jeff Kaelin of Winterport had an election night lead of six votes over Democrat Joseph Brooks of Winterport.

Monday’s Elections Committee session is described as organizational. Mills said last week that discussions would involve procedures the panel will follow in its review.

The full House and Senate do not reconvene until Jan. 4. But another new panel, the Joint Select Committee on Property Tax Reform, is expected to begin its work this month.