Lawrence gets endorsement, returns donation

This is why we don't have elected judges and DAs in this state, and it illustrates the problem when a sitting DA runs for higher office. No doubt Lawrence is attracting donations from folks who think they are buying immunity from prosecution, like this Biddeford oil dealer. If Lawrence wants to be a Congressman, he should first resign as York County DA.

Actually, Bill, District Attorneys are elected in Maine, from eight "prosecutorial districts" which are single counties or combinations of counties.  DAs are elected for four-year terms at the same time as the Governor.  Mark Lawrence was appointed District Attorney for Prosecutorial District 1 (York County) in 2003, won a "special" primary and general election (held on the regular primary and general election day, 2004) for the remainder of that term (his only challenger being term-limited state Senator Lloyd P. LaFountain of Biddeford in the Democratic primary; Lawrence won with 57 percent of the vote), and was reelected unopposed to a full four-year term in 2006.

Probate Court Judges (who deal with wills, adoptions and guardianship determinations, legal name changes and perhaps other things which are conferred on them by law) are also elected in Maine from their respective counties (and that unlike the election of District Attorneys is specified in Maine's constitution).  They serve four-year terms, although which even years they are elected in depends on the county (half the counties elect a judge of probate every two years, not counting special elections to fill vacancies).  I've heard, though, that it is rather exceptional for an incumbent Judge of Probate seeking reelection to be challenged if he or she hasn't had ethical troubles (which apparently happened in York and Aroostook Counties recently, both incumbent Democrats winning by 13% or more).

Democrat Paul Dumas is challenging third-term Probate Court Judge Dana Hanley, a former conservative Republican State Legislator (House and Senate) who chaired Dave Emery's campaign for Governor two years ago, in Oxford County this year.  This was pointed out on As Maine Goes as an exception to the usual rule, although former Democratic State Senator and Congressional Candidate Susan Longley did unseat second-term Waldo County Judge of Probate Randolph Mailloux by 5.7% in 2004.  I don't know if Mailloux had gotten into any ethical trouble or just held a position Longley wanted and had the political capitol to get.  The person who pointed out Dumas's challenge to Hanley seemed to suggest Hanley was squeeky clean.

Incumbent District Attorneys also seem to often go unchallenged, but perhaps not as uniformly as Probate Court Judges.  Lack of competition for county offices in general is fairly common in Maine.

The "regular" and appelate court judges are not elected as they are in some states.