MACHIAS – State Rep. Martha A. Bagley was remembered Tuesday as a champion for Washington County and working people throughout the state.

The Machias Democrat died Monday night at her home, surrounded by her family.

Bagley, who had served in the state House of Representatives since 1997, was diagnosed with bone cancer in November 2000. She continued her constituent work until just days before her death.

“She was a tremendous advocate for Washington County. But more importantly she was a real fighter for working men and women throughout the state,” House Majority Leader Patrick Colwell, D-Gardiner, said Tuesday. “I think that is her legacy.”

Domna Giatas, spokeswoman for the Maine Secretary of State’s Office, said Bagley’s daughters had notified the office late last week that their mother was dying and requested that her name be withdrawn as a candidate for House District 133.

Giatas said the Secretary of State’s Office has issued a declaration of vacancy and that a political committee representing the towns that Bagley served has until Oct. 29 to choose another candidate. Ballots for those municipalities then will be reissued, she said. She represented Beals, Cutler, Jonesboro, Jonesport, Machias, Machiasport, Roque Bluffs and Whiting.

At noon Tuesday, Gov. Angus King directed that the U.S. flag and the state flag be lowered to half-staff until after Bagley’s funeral Friday.

“That is the least we can do to honor someone who gave so much to Maine,” King said Tuesday. “I loved her and I’m going to miss her.”

King said he remembers Bagley’s “wonderful spirit” last December, when he traveled to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor to swear her in as a member of the 120th Legislature.

“She was a model legislator and a model public servant – fair-minded, a good listener, willing to learn and change her views,” King said. “She was a loyal Democrat, but was not a fierce partisan. She was only fierce when it came to Washington County.”

King said Bagley’s passion the past few years was for replacement of the Down East Correctional Facility in Bucks Harbor. A bond issue to pay for it will be on the ballot Nov. 5.

Bagley had more to do with that proposed bond issue than anyone, King said.

In 1997, when Bagley had just been elected, it appeared that Maine was destined to move to a new prison system in Windham and Warren, a decision that would have closed Bucks Harbor and taken 71 jobs out of Washington County.

Bagley pulled together county businesses and organizations to prepare an alternative that included replacing the Down East Correctional Facility. The proposal won King’s support and he bypassed a consultant’s report that endorsed closing the facility

Bagley didn’t stop there, according to C. Mark Caton, director of the Down East Correctional Facility.

“She got the Legislature to pass a resolve to build a facility in Machias, and the following session she held their feet to the fire,” Caton said. “She always pushed for Washington County, not just in corrections, but in everything.”

State Rep. Eddie Dugay, D-Cherryfield, said Bagley had a natural ability to determine the unintended consequences of a proposed action. Other legislators respected her, he said.

“Whenever Martha got up on the floor during the session, people would stop what they were doing and listen,” he said.

Legislators were not the only people listening to Bagley.

Last October, during the grand opening of a new state service center in Machias, state Labor Commissioner Valerie Landry credited Bagley as the driving force behind the greatly expanded center.

“It was really Martha’s constant nudging that got us here,” Landry told the crowd of 100 people.

Bagley never stopped once she started on something, according to Dianne Tilton, executive director of the Sunrise County Economic Council. “She was always thinking about everyone else and she was right at it, right to the end,” Tilton said. “When you lose someone like that, you feel it.”

U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, D-Maine, said Bagley was “an inspiration to others.”

“Her love of family and her contribution to community and the state of Maine made a difference and provided an outstanding example of service,” Baldacci said in a statement.