No lack of choices in race for 1st Congressional District

May 29, 2008 Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel by Jim Brunelle.

As Democrats gather in Augusta this weekend for their state party convention, attention shifts from the eclipsing, all-consuming shadow of presidential politics to more parochial matters.

It's about time.

The 1st Congressional District race in particular deserves attention if only because of the size and quality of the field and the closeness of the primary, June 10.

When the current congressman, Tom Allen, last year announced he was ready to move up the ladder and challenge the re-election bid of Sen. Susan Collins, it inspired a half-dozen Democrats and a couple of Republicans to proclaim themselves available to fill the Allen vacancy.

Like most open elections, this one has produced candidates with a wide variety of political experience, ranging from a great deal to none. Unlike other such elections, however, just about the entire current crop of candidates -- Democrats and Republicans -- deserve to be taken seriously. Unusually, there doesn't seem to be a genuine crackpot in the crowd.

For the most part they come across as articulate, thoughtful and balanced. They've all embraced issues that touch broad constituencies. They all have individual strengths and weaknesses but come to us at a time when voters are in the mood for change, even if it means installing a candidate with little or no experience. Take a look at the six Democrats in the running:

It's easy to assume that Chellie Pingree, former legislative leader and former head of Common Cause, is the leader of the pack. Her name is by far the most recognizable, she jumped into the race soon after Allen announced his plans early last year and she has raised over $1 million, more than any of her challengers. Oh, and she's the only female in the race, always an advantage in Maine.

She also has vulnerabilities. State Sen. Ethan Strimling of Portland among others has used Pingree's money-raising success to undermine her image as a foe of a cash-driven election process. Strimling, possibly more than any other candidate, has focused on the state of the economy, the hottest political issue at all levels this year.

Adam Cote, a newcomer, touts his background as a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to promote his own desire to end the war and redirect the money it costs into the domestic economy. Despite his inexperience, Cote recently won a legitimizing endorsement from the Portland Press Herald.

Former Senate President Mark Lawrence of Kittery and 12-year legislative veteran Michael Brennan of Portland come to the race with solid credentials. And political unknown Steve Meister, a pediatrician from Winthrop, brings an intelligently conservative flavor to the Democratic race.

Republicans have the easier choice in the June primary. There are only two candidates and their ideological divisions are clear. Charlie Summers represents the centrist core of the party and newcomer Dean Scontras unapologetically claims the conservative side.

Until recently, Summers has been off the campaign trail, serving a tour of duty in Iraq while his wife Ruth has been making the case for him back home. He has the greater political experience of the two, having served in the Maine Legislature, been nominated by his party for a previous congressional race (against Allen) and served as regional director of the federal Small Business Administration.

Not being able to campaign in person has been both a curse and a blessing for Summers. Clearly a candidate who can't campaign is at a disadvantage. On the other hand, being in the service of his country insulated him against frontal attacks that could fatally undermine his candidacy.

Eliot businessman Scontras got in early, raised the most money and quickly rallied the support of right wing activists. He is hampered by his newcomer-starting-at-the-top status, having to shadowbox an absentee opponent until recently and possibly suffering the consequences of mounting a late-blooming negative campaign against Summers.

The two Republican candidates seem to have their feet under them now and are campaigning vigorously, both positively and negatively. In the end, as always in a crowded eliminations contest like this where no one stands out as unbeatable, the outcome usually just depend upon which candidates are the best organized.

Old-fashioned organization, rallying a strong block of supporters and getting them to spread the word to family and friends and then making sure they all get to the polls on Election Day trumps experience, money, name identification, negative ads, being right on the issues, name it.

For 1st District voters, this adds up to one of the better, more interesting primary elections in recent memory.

Jim Brunelle is a weekly columnist and has been commenting on Maine issues for more than 40 years. He lives in Cape Elizabeth and can be reached at jbrune@maine.rr.com.

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