State House race ratings: Hancock County

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

PolitickerME.com has evaluated all 151 state House ratings by looking at the candidates, their histories and past results. We also spoke with people close to the process.

Click on the links for a county-by-county assessment:

Click here for an overall evaluation.

HANCOCK COUNTY

H.D. 34 – Tossup: Rep. Robert Eaton (D-Sullivan) narrowly beat an incumbent in 2006 in an upset win. Now the Republicans want the seat back, and have a strong opponent, Richard Malaby (R-Hancock). Both parties are watching this race closely.

H.D. 35 – Likely Democrat: Rep. Ted Koffman (D-Bar Harbor) is termed out, and Elsie Flemings (D-Bar Harbor) and Richard Savage II (R-Mount Desert) are competing for the seat. It is a Democratic district, and Flemings should win easily.

H.D. 36 – Safe Democrat: On a remote island, incumbent Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven) is getting ready to be the next Speaker of the House, an ambition that has only become easier since she is unopposed in her reelection bid.

H.D. 37 – Likely Democrat: While this district has traditionally favored Republicans in the past, incumbent James Schatz (D-Blue Hill) easily won his second term in 2006 2,267 to 1,213. He shouldn’t have a problem winning a third term against Jonathan Walden (R-Surry).

H.D. 38 – Tossup: Incumbent Robert Crosthwaite (R-Ellsworth) is retiring, and Carrie Jones (D-Ellsworth) and Brian Langley (R-Ellsworth) are competing for the seat. Both are very well known in their community. Jones is a children’s book author, and Langley is a retired teacher who owns a lobster restaurant. Crosthwaite won narrowly in 2006, 2,075 to 1,875, and this year the race could swing in either direction.

H.D. 40 – Safe Republican: Rep. Kimberly Rosen (R-Buckport) won this seat solidly in 2006 2,151 to 1,589. She and her husband, who serves in the Senate, are known and respected in the area, and she should have no problem winning her reelection bid against Mark LeBlanc (D-Orrington).

H.D. 41 – Leans Republican: In 2006, Lance Weddell (D-Frankfort) beat then-incumbent Ken Lindell (R-Frankfort) in an upset. Lindell had been sued for libel that year which hurt his reelection bid. The courts ultimately ruled in his favor and he cleared his name. This year he is back, and won a three-way primary narrowly. This traditionally is a Republican district, and Lindell will likely win in his race against Veronica Magnan (D-Stockton Springs), but expect a narrow margin.

JESSICA ALAIMO is a PolitickerME.com Reporter and can be reached via email at jessica.alaimo@politickerme.com.

Email this Article

Comments

Trust vs Mistrust

posted by peary brown

Very seldom do you get to know possible state representatives at a personal level and having known juskewitch at this level I can say he is a danger to society. Granted I am a previous prosecuted individual with a bone to pick, I also won my case. This guy sounds good but is mostly concerned about his career, at all costs. A very dangerous man is my opinion and earned that right by seeing this liar in action.

10/18/08 10:22 am