By David Harry

Staff Writer

A special election will be held May 10 to fill the Maine Senate District 7 seat opened by the resignation of Democrat Larry Bliss, according to Maine Secretary of State Charles Summers.

Summers said those interested in seeking the seat have until 4 p.m. April 7 to file certificates of nomination or petitions with at least 200 signatures of district voters. Senate District 7 is comprised of Cape Elizabeth, South Portland and the eastern portion of Scarborough.

Nominees from the Republican, Democratic and Green Independent parties will be named in meetings of Cumberland County party committee members who live in the district.

In the scramble leading to the nomination process, the withdrawals from consideration equaled interest to fill the year remaining on Bliss’ term.

Republican Joe Palmieri, a radio host, former TV journalist and owner of Chicago Dogs in Scarborough, announced Wednesday he will not make a second run for the seat. Palmieri lost a recounted election by 75 votes to Bliss last November.

Palmieri was initially interested in running and confident he would have won the special election, but said he had a change of heart when he considered the demands of running and the time needed to serve in Augusta.

The field of Democrats was thinned this week when South Portland City Councilor Thomas Blake announced his withdrawal from the race.

Blake said withdrawing was a difficult decision, but “the right decision for me and my expanding family.”

Maine Rep. Cynthia Dill, who represents District 121 in Cape Elizabeth, said last week she will seek the nomination to fill the remaining year left of Bliss’ term.

Rob Schreiber, an adjunct faculty member at Southern Maine Community College and former South Portland Planning Board member, said this week he is seeking the nomination. Schreiber had expressed interest when he learned of Bliss’ resignation, then put his aspirations aside to support Blake, he said.

Bliss, who won his second term last November, has accepted an administration position at the California State University East Bay and will leave the Senate April 15.

The election will coincide with school budget referendum elections in the district towns.