Lincoln County went blue Nov. 6, tilting Democratic almost across the board.
Two of the three GOP candidates to win election in Lincoln County in 2012 were unopposed.
Unopposed Probate Judge Tom Berry was reelected for a seventh term in office and unopposed Southport candidate Hamilton Meserve coasted to a seat on the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, succeeding the retiring Lynn (Orne) Martin.
In House District 50, Waldoboro Republican Ellen A. Winchenbach defeated Jefferson Democrat Joel Pitcher, 2336-2196.
In victory speaking on Nov. 7, Winchenbach said, “I’m tired but thrilled. Joel called about a quarter of three [o’clock a.m.] to concede. It was a nail-biter. We’ll work hard and be fair, and I thank everybody for their support. I really look forward to being in Augusta.”
Pitcher said, “I think that the voters of the people in District 50 are a lucky bunch as compared to the rest of the state. They had two great candidates to choose from.
“The process is sound. It was a clean race. I’m proud of having been a part of it. It’s a testament to the democratic process. Obviously, I wish the vote could have gone in my favor, but she’ll do well,” he said.
The closest race of the day was the Senate District 20 seat between incumbent Sen. Chris Johnson (D-Somerville) and Rep. Les Fossel, (R-Alna). At press time Johnson held a 126-vote lead, 10,824-10,698 over Fossel.
When contacted Nov. 7, Sen. Chris Johnson (D-Somerville), claimed victory in his bid for re-election to the District 20 seat in the Maine Senate, while his opponent, Rep. Les Fossel (R-Alna) will wait for official results, with unofficial results showing Johnson with a 126-vote lead. (See the full reaction, this issue of The Lincoln County News.)
In the race to Fossel’s District 53 seat, Pittston Democrat Tim Marks defeated Wiscasset Republican Ray Soule, 2577 to 2388 to earn his first term in the House representing the towns of Alna, Dresden, Wiscasset and Pittston.
After the contest, both men paid their respects to the other.
“I’m looking forward to getting going and helping the people of the district,” Marks said the morning of Nov 7. “It was certainly a lot closer than I thought it was going to be.”
“[Soule] ran a great election, I have a lot of respect for him,” Marks said. “He probably knocked on more doors than I did. He worked very hard, no question about it, and I would thank him for a nice clean campaign.”
Soule said in response to the results, “I’d congratulate [Marks],” Soule said. “We both worked hard and one of us had to lose.”
Soule said he does not expect to run again. “I’m not saying that 100 percent, but I can’t visualize it,” he said. “This really wasn’t in my plans to start with. I was recruited and decided to give it a shot and just didn’t make it.”
In House District 52, a rematch of the 2010 race, Republican Rep. Deb Sanderson held off the challenge of former representative Lisa Miller (D-Somerville) 2336-2196.
“Wow,” Sanderson said. “What a big fight. It was close all over the place.” She said she was tired and had not had much sleep. She said the change in leadership in the House would make a difference in the coming session. “Ideologically, there’s a difference of opinion there. We will try to work as best as I can for the people of our state with our colleagues across the aisle.”
Miller said she was, “incredibly disappointed. Deb Sanderson is a formidable campaigner. There is no question she used every tool she had and she had a lot, including getting out and meeting people. We both used what we had to work with. Perhaps her messages just got across better this time. There was a lot of money spent on this race and in this race. I don’t think that was what made the different. I worked hard and she worked hard and in the end she won.”
In the race for the District 51 seat, vacated by Newcastle Republican Jon McKane, Newcastle Democrat Mick Devin held a narrow 2837-2755 lead over Damariscotta Republican Alan E. “Buzz” Pinkham.
District 61 Rep. Bruce MacDonald won reelection to his fourth term in the House representing the District 61 towns of Arrowsic, Georgetown and Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport, 2889-2364.
MacDonald defeated first time challenger, Boothbay Harbor businesswoman Stephanie Hawke.
In Senate District 19, which includes most of Sagadahoc County and Dresden in Lincoln County, Sen. Seth Goodall (D-Richmond) apparently posted a sweeping victory over his Dresden opponent and retained his seat, defeating first time challenger Jeff Pierce, (R-Dresden).
“My hat is off to Jeff,” Goodall said Nov. 7. “We ran a good race that was focused on the issues.”
“We’re excited about winning and achieving majorities in the house and the senate for the Democrats,” Goodall said. “I think the voters have clearly spoken, saying they want the legislature to go back to work toward bipartisan solutions to strengthen our economy and help create jobs…I think that is clearly our directive, whether a Democrat or Republican.”
“It was a great experience for someone who hasn’t run before…I don’t have any regrets in any of it,” Pierce said. “I wish my opponent luck, and when he talked about bipartisanship I hope he meant it.”
In the national level polls, Lincoln County reelected President Barack Obama to a second term, returned Rep. Chellie Pingree to Congress, and overwhelmingly elected former Gov. Angus King to succeed retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
King, an Independent whom observers expect will caucus with Democrats, easily defeated both Republican Charlie Summers and Democrat Cynthia Dill.
Mainers also made history, approving same-sex marriage marking the first time such an issue had been approved at the polls.
Lincoln County also approved all four bond issues as presented, passing a $11.56 million bond for the University of Maine system 8814-8594, a $5 million bond to purchase land and conservation easements 11,156-6411; and $51.5 million bond for improvements to highways and bridges, local roads, airports and port facilities, as well as for funds for rail access, transit buses and the LifeFlight Foundation (12,822-4804) and a $7,925,000 bond to support two years of revolving loan funds for drinking water systems and wastewater treatment facilities, 10,619-6842.