Steve Beaudette, a former Biddeford City Council President and State Representative, has tossed his hat into the ring to capture the District 4 State Senate Seat now held by State Sen. Nancy Sullivan.
Sullivan, who is prohibited from seeking re-election because of term limits, has declared she will seek her former House Seat (District 137), which is now occupied by Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant.
Casavant says he will fight to keep the seat for another term, despite being recently elected as the city’s mayor. See: Ready to Rumble?
While serving on the city council, Beaudette challenged former Mayor Donna Dion when she ran for a second term in 1999. Beaudette lost that four-way race, which also included Rory Holland, a man now imprisoned on a double murder charge.
But Beaudette isn’t the only Democrat hoping to join the “Muffin Club.”
Biddeford firefighter and political newcomer David Dutremble could give Beaudette a good run for his money.
Dutremble, a nephew of the late Babe Dutremble, has the distinct advantage of a very well know surname that represents a political dynasty in Biddeford. See No.6 in Biddeford-Saco’s 25 most influential political players.
Not only that, Dutremble will be using Maine’s “Clean Election” fund to help secure the win while Beaudette relies on the old-fashioned method of political fundraising with private money.
As these two well-known Democrats go head-to-head in a city dominated by Democrats, one has to wonder why the Maine GOP has yet to file even a paper candidate for the seat. Surely, they would like to keep their majority in the Maine Senate, which now includes 20 Republicans, 14 Democrats and one Unenrolled member; and any open seat coul be vulnerable.
But that’s not all, unconfirmed reports indicate that former city councilor and current school committee member Jim Emerson, another Democrat, is also considering a swing at the District 4 seat. Thus, the June Primary could get very expensive, very quickly….not that those who sell political ads and signs will mind.
To see and keep track of all the candidates who are considering a legislative seat in this year’s election, please visit the Maine Secretary of State’s web page.
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