Democrats pick candidate for District 93 seat

AUGUSTA – Looking to increase their hold on the state House of Representatives, Democrats in one of two newly open districts have selected a candidate for election in November.

Party officials said Wednesday that Sheryl Briggs of Mexico had been chosen the night before as the Democratic candidate for state representative in District 93.

A special election to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Republican Randy Hotham of Dixfield will be held Nov. 6, coinciding with statewide voting on five ballot questions.

District 93 includes the towns of Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Mexico and Peru.

“Sheryl’s deep ties in the community and her strong work ethic make her a great candidate for office, and we are going to do everything we can to help her win this election. No doubt she will do a great job in Augusta,” Maine Democratic Party Chairman John Knutson said Briggs is a solid candidate.

Republicans in District 93 have scheduled a nomination caucus for Aug. 29 and say several people have expressed interest in running.

“I am delighted by the number of Republicans who are willing to seek the party’s nomination,” Oxford County Republican Party Chairman Dan Bolling said in a statement. “Having so many people interested in serving honors the leadership and commitment to public service that Rep. Hotham has brought to the state Legislature.”

The recent death of Republican Rep. Earl Richardson of Greenville has left another House vacancy in District 27.

District 27 includes the municipalities of Abbot, Barnard, Beaver Cove, Blanchard Township, Bowerbank, Brownville, Cambridge, Elliottsville Townships, Greenville, Guilford, Kingsbury, Monson, Northeast Piscataquis, Northwest Piscataquis, Parkman, Plantation of Kingsbury, Sebec, Shirley, and Willimantic.

District Republicans will hold a special caucus to choose a nominee next Tuesday.

Democrats are expected to pick their candidate in District 27 on Monday.

On June 12, majority Democrats picked up a seat in the Maine House of Representatives when Deane Jones of Mount Vernon was elected to fill a seat vacated by the death of Republican Rep. Abigail Holman of Fayette.

Jones defeated Republican Penelope Morrell of Belgrade. House District 83 also includes the towns of Manchester and Vienna.

With two vacancies, the current partisan makeup of the House of Representatives is 89 Democrats, 58 Republicans and two independents.