Republicans hope to take reigns of state Senate in ‘08

Republicans haven't had control of the state Senate for ten years, and party leaders say it's time to make a run for it.

Senate Majority Leader Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, however, doesn't see this as so likely.

The Senate currently has 18 Democrats and 17 Republicans. Four Democrats and two Republicans will be termed out in 2008, and five Republicans were elected by a margin of 1,500 or less in 2006.

The Republicans last held the majority during the 1995 and 1996 session, when Sen. Jeffery Butland, R-Cumberland, was president. Before him there hadn't been a Republican majority since 1982.

During the 120th Legislature in 2001 and 2002, the two parties tied at 17 seats, with one independent. Each party took one year as the majority.

John Bradford, head of the Republican Leadership Council in Maine, said his organization is out to create a new image for Maine Republicans, one that is independent of national policies and united to bring fiscal conservatism and a smaller government.

A Republican Senate will be dependent on the party's ability to recruit viable candidates, Bradford said.

Assistant Minority Leader Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, has been looking at the issue, and said it is in reach for either party.

Furthermore, Rosen said the party will focus on all districts, even those traditionally voting Democrat. It's too early to see which districts they will hone in on, aside from those with open seats.

"It will take convincing the voters that they are ready for change in control in agenda," Rosen said.

Common goals are to strengthen the economy, ease the tax burden and improve conditions in rural Maine.

"Maine is going in a direction that is not a direction we want to go," Rosen said. "They have to be convinced that the Republicans are ready to govern."

The Democrats see differently.

Mitchell said that all democratic incumbents have a strong likelihood of being reelected.

For the four who are termed out, she said they have strong candidates lined up to replace them, such as current Rep. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, in Sen. Beth Edmonds’ district.

“We think that he is a very strong candidate,” Mitchell said.

They hope to pick up a few seats too, and are eyeing strong candidates in the Republican districts. Jeanne Hulit, a banker in the Portland area, is running to replace Sen. Karl Turner, R-Cumberland, who is termed out.

If the Democrats remain in the majority, Mitchell is not ready to say if she’ll run for Senate President, though it is a possibility, she said.

Mitchell served as Speaker of the House in 1996.