York Town News
Seacoast Democrats have a new home in the Meadowbrook Plaza
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe was one of many supporters who came to town in celebration of Saturday's opening of the Seacoast Democrats Office in Meadowbrook Plaza. Pictured here, Rowe (left) takes a moment to pose with House District 148 candidate Roberta Beavers and Senate District 1 candidate Peter Bowman.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - While November may seem far away under these sunny September skies, absentee ballots will be available in less than a month, and voters will be heading to the polls in just about six weeks to decide an array of local, state and federal races as well as many key ballot issues.
With that timeline fresh in their minds, supporters of local Democratic candidates took part in the grand opening of the Seacoast Democrats office in the Meadowbrook Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Glen MacWilliams, chairman of the York Democratic Committee, explained that the office will be managed by the Democratic Town Committees of York, Kittery, Eliot, South Berwick and Ogunquit as a center for interested voters, volunteers and the Democratic candidates appearing on the ballot on Nov. 7.
In addition to refreshments and conversations, visitors to the Sept. 16 opening were able to gather an array of information on the races and issues that will be decided at the polls in November as well as volunteer opportunities available in the weeks ahead.
Local candidates including Kinley Gregg, who is seeking election to House District 150, and Dawn Hill, who is running to serve as representative of House District 149, were joined by their counterparts from Eliot, South Berwick, Kittery and beyond at the event, which even brought Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe to town to show his support.
Gregg is running against Republic Windol Weaver while Hill is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Brad Moulton.
Other Democratic candidates include Peter Bowman for Senate District 1, Adam Sharff for House District 146, Roberta Beavers for House District 148 and Walter Wheeler for House District 151.
County-level Democratic candidates include Mark Lawrence for district attorney, Gloria Layman for county commissioner, Maurice "Moe" Ouellette for sheriff, Nancy Auclair for treasurer and Debra Anderson for register of deeds.
Gov. John E. Baldacci is seeking reelection on the Democratic ticket as is U.S. Congressman Tom Allen. Jean Hay Bright is seeking her first term in the U.S. Senate, running against incumbent Republican Sen. Olympia J. Snowe.
"It's been very positive," Beavers said of the opening on Saturday. "Almost every candidate came and people from almost every town were here."
Beavers noted that many candidates spent part of their Saturday at the opening while also heading out and about in their prospective districts to meet voters during door-to-door visits.
Bowman added that coming to events like this is heartening as he and the other candidates have an opportunity to meet many residents from across Southern York County.
Bowman, who is a former Portsmouth Naval Shipyard commander, is running against Ken Lemont for the Senate District 1 seat.
For more information on the Seacoast Democrats, contact Glen MacWilliams at 363-8104.
