‘The timing is right’: Faircloth, others to seek AG job

House Majority Whip Sean Faircloth, D-Bangor, will seek the Attorney General’s post when his current term is up, along with Rep. John Brautigam, D-Falmouth.

Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington, and Sen. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, also said they will consider running.

According to an e-mail from Faircloth to colleagues, passed along by a reliable source:
“… You'll hear of others interested in my House seat. I want you to know from me: I won't seek re-election. I've made my choice. After two decades of service, the timing is right to serve as Attorney General.”

Faircloth said Wednesday that he had no comment on his decision at this time.

Brautigam said Wednesday that he is a contender as well. He has not decided whether he will run for re-election first.

"It is possible to do it either way," Brautigam said.

Current Attorney General Steven Rowe has no plans to endorse anyone as his successor, a spokesman in his office said. Rowe is on vacation this week.

Faircloth has previously worked as a Senate Legal Counsel, and both he and Brautigam have held positions in the Attorney General's Office.

"I find it appealing to my sense of contribution in the public policy arena," Brautigam said.

In Faircloth's e-mail, he said his priorities will continue to be the Democratic caucus.

“Count on me to work optimistically with all members of our team this session -- and in the upcoming election year,” his e-mail stated.

The Maine Attorney General is selected by the Legislature. Rowe and other recent Attorney Generals, including James E. Tierney, Andrew Ketterer and Michael Carpenter all served in the majority party of the Legislature prior to being elected.

Two other possible candidates say their decisions will be based on if them leaving would mean the Democrats losing control of one of the chambers.

Sen. Hobbins gave up a state Senate seat to run against Carpenter in 1990, and then lost the position by two votes.

“Having had that experience, and having given up a safe seat … I’ve been urged to consider running, and I’d be honored to serve, but I plan to run for re-election for the state Senate.”

If he is nominated for the post after being re-elected, then he said he would give it serious consideration.

It’s still early, he said. Other factors that could get in the way include if his seat is necessary to keep the Democratic majority and if there are legal issues with him being nominated for Attorney General after he is sworn in.

Mills has also said it is a possibility. The primary factor in her decision to run, she said, is contingent on the Democrats maintaining the majority in the House.

In an e-mail she sent to her colleagues in response to Faircloth's, she wrote: "We may feel confident of our majority status today, but we also remember just over two years ago when our lead in the House was razor thin and so very much was at risk. Committee chairs were shared. Every vote was debated. Our leadership and our constitutional offices were challenged. In this world every single seat counts. Nothing should be taken for granted."

Mills has decades of trial experience under her belt. She spent 15 years as the District Attorney for Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties, and was the first woman in the criminal division of the AG's office, where she spent four years.

Another person said to be a possible contender, Rep. Sharon Treat, D-Hallowell, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.