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The Associated Press
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The Associated PressThe open seats result from three resignations and two deaths. Departed representatives were from Cornish, Lewiston, Mount Vernon, Dixfield and Greenville. Three of the seats had been held by Republicans, two by Democrats.
"It's pretty unique," says House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D- Portland. "Five special elections."
A year ago, statewide voters put 88 Democrats and 61 Republicans in the House, along with two independents.
As the openings now provide an opportunity for Democrats to widen the gap and for Republicans to narrow it, both side profess optimism.
Contrasts among the contests can be seen most clearly in House District 83 – comprised of Belgrade, Fayette, Manchester, Mount Vernon and Vienna – and in House District 72 – made up of much of downtown Lewiston.
Represented this year first by a Republican and then by a Democrat, both of whom died in office, District 83 cannot help but be called a swing seat.
Democrats have nominated Pat Jones of Mount Vernon to succeed her late husband, Democratic Rep. Deane Jones.
"I want to pick up where my husband left off, upholding his strong environmental policy issues, particularly alternative energy to support our families and local businesses," Jones said in a statement after she was nominated. "Legislation that strengthens health care access and quality education are also equally important to me."
Jones retired in 2003 after 24 years with the Maine Bureau of Health. She has served on the school board for Community School District 10 and Union 42.
Republicans in District 83 have chosen Clyde Dyar of Mount Vernon as their nominee. The owner of Meadow Brook Consulting, which provides services to businesses, Dyar is the director of Thomas M. Teague Biotechnology Center in Fairfield.
"My priority will be to improve the quality of life for people in District 83 by creating new jobs and by strengthening education," he said in a statement.
Deane Jones was 69 when he died after a sudden illness in September. He had been elected in June in a special election to succeed 45-year-old Rep. Abigail Holman, R-Fayette, who died in a skiing accident in April.
The District 72 seat in Lewiston has historically been a Democratic lock. It became open with the summer resignation of Democratic Rep. William Walcott. He subsequently was targeted by the state ethics panel for allegedly misusing public funds during his 2006 campaign. His case has been referred to the Maine attorney general.
"Lewiston is a very tough district," says Republican Party Executive Director Julie O'Brien.
The Democratic candidate is Mike Carey, who works in housing. Republicans are putting up David Hughes, a former computer programmer who has been a stay-at-home father.
Despite a traditional advantage, Democrats say they do not assume anything.
"Voter contact" is crucial in each campaign, especially in off-year elections, says Cummings, who has personally joined the Democratic effort in Lewiston.
Both major party organizations are involved in the campaigns, but given the nature of spread-out separate contests, O'Brien says most of the burden is on the candidates themselves.
In an off-year, "You don't have the momentum of all the other elections happening," she says.
Still, both sides suggest there are overriding factors.
"Health care continues to come up as a major issue," says Cummings. "And tax reform, I'd say in that order."
In O'Brien's view, "All of the candidates sound the same on this one. It's the tax issue.… It's the issue that's foremost on people's minds."
In House District 93, which includes Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Mexico and Peru, Republicans have...
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