July 23, 2008 - 6:14am
Four minutes and a free ride
By Wally EdgeEvery election year there are usually dozens of candidates who withdraw from state house and state senate races. Most of the these folks are "place holders", people willing to put their name on the ballot back in March so the respective parties can find a real candidate to run in the fall. According to Maine Law, there are essentially three ways an individual can withdraw as a candidate and still allow for a replacement candidate. They are:
- Withdraws on or before 5 p.m. of the 2nd Monday in July preceding the general election;
- Withdraws because of a catastrophic illness that has permanently and continuously incapacitated the candidate and would prevent performance of the duties of the office sought, provided the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family files with the Secretary of State a certificate accompanying the withdrawal request, which describes the illness and is signed by at least 2 licensed physicians; or Dies prior to the general election.
- Death
This year's newest member of the 5:01 p.m. club goes to Republican, George Rawlings Thomson, Jr. He withdrew with the Secretary of State shortly after 5:00 PM (rumor is 5:04 p.m.) and as a result Rep. Nancy Smith (D-Monmouth) will be getting a free ride in the election this November.
Uncontested races are rarely a good thing. First, it frees up the candidate with no opponent to raise money, and work hard to help their colleagues get elected. Also, many times these folks jockey for leadership positions. Finally, races without opponents deny voters a choice.
The final list of candidates must be completed by Monday, July 28th.
Note: Thanks to KL for the tip.
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Nancy Smith ran for House Assistant Majority Leader in 2006, losing to Sean Faircloth in a race that also featured veteran Representative Herb Clark. So she might take advantage of being unopposed and run for leadership this time as Wally mentioned unopposed candidates often do. Rick Bennett was already the top non-term limited Senate Republican going into the 2000 elections, but his being unopposed doubtless helped him help his party gain three seats and parity in the Senate (and they came very close to winning at least a couple other Senate seats that year). There are now 12 House districts where there will definitely not be a Republican on the ballot and in 9 of those the only candidate is a Democrat (or will be after unopposed but withdrawn State Rep. Christopher Babbidge (D-Kennebunk) is replaced in House District 141). There is one D incumbent v. Green Independent challenger race in Brunswick, one D incumbent v. 2 Independent challengers race in the Mexico-Dixfield area, and one Independent incumbent (Thomas B. Saviello whom I've heard would support the Republicans on organizational votes but who couldn't be replaced if he died or withdrew for any reason) v. Democratic challenger race in a district consisting of Wilton and several small towns and some unorganized territory in central Franklin County. In House District 11, a large district consisting of territory in Hancock (the smallest portion of the district's population I'm sure), Penobscot and Washington Counties, a Democrat withdrew before the primary and was not replaced, so second term Rep. Everett W. MacLeod, Sr. (R-Lee) will be unopposed in November. Democrats have candidates or the opportunity to name replacement candidates in every other House district. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have an opportunity to field full slates of candidates for the State Senate in the general election as they did in the primary.
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