By David Harry

Staff Writer

The winner of the May 10 election to fill the Maine Senate District 7 is going be very busy, say candidates on the ballot.

“We are getting thrown in at the craziest time,” said Republican challenger and South Portland businessman Louie Maietta Jr.

Rep. Cynthia Dill (D-Cape Elizabeth), the Democratic challenger, said she is basing her campaign on knowing what the Legislature is already considering and what it will mean to district constituents in South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and the eastern portion of Scarborough.

“I’m talking about the votes I will take. Our campaign is about what we will bring to the table,” she said.

The winner will replace former Sen. Larry Bliss, who resigned April 15 to take a job at California State University East Bay. The race has been marked by candidates entering, withdrawing from and re-entering the race, and has settled into campaigns that feature current and former members of the Maine House.

South Portland resident John Kierstead is not on the ballot, but is seeking the seat as a write-in candidate.

Dill and Maietta have pledged to step away from party allegiances when needed to represent constituents and work with both parties.

“I consider myself a common sense person. I will not just do something without a reason,” said Maietta, who served a three-year term on the South Portland City Council from 1999 to 2002 and a two-year term in the former Maine House District 26 from 2002 to 2004.

“I have a very moderate voting record,” said Dill, who serves Cape Elizabeth in House District 121. She defeated Republican challenger Eric Lusk to win a second three-year term last November.

Maietta, the son of South Portland construction company owner Louis Maietta Sr., said he stepped away from politics almost a decade ago to help his daughters get started in business.

“One of my passions I always had is keeping my kids here,” Maietta said.

Dill and Maietta said they hope to carry on some of Bliss’ legislative work.

Maietta said he enjoyed serving with Bliss when both were representatives who served South Portland. While in different parties, Maietta said they still worked together.

Dill said Bliss was known for his exceptional constituent service.

“I will strive to continue or exceed that,” she said.

Maietta also said he will try to continue and expand the message of economic development and expansion Republican Joe Palmieri emphasized in his 75-vote defeat to Bliss in last November’s recounted election.

Maietta said he would focus on prioritizing state spending and reworking the formula used to distribute education funds.

“I don’t consider southern Maine so rich it does not need state funding,” he said.

Dill said her desire to use expanded broadband services for economic development and professed moderation has limits.

“There are places where compromises can’t be made,” she said in response to constituent concerns that civil rights and environmental protection are under attack in Augusta.

Maietta said his approach is straightforward and his reasoning consistent when he approaches issues.

“We don’t need controversy and bickering. My whole life, I have been able to communicate so it does not turn into mudslinging,” he said.

Before Maietta and Dill were nominated by district members of the Cumberland County Republican and Democratic committees, the race featured some notable comings and goings.

Maietta was chosen after Palmieri withdrew because of questions regarding campaign spending and reporting raised by the Maine Governmental Ethics and Practices Commission. 

In his response to commission auditor Vincent Dinan, Palmieri said asking for the trust of voters was unfair while answering to Dinan’s findings. On Tuesday, the commission fined Palmieri $1,750 for violations of Clean Election laws, according to Executive Director Jonathan Wayne.

Dill initially was opposed by South Portland City Councilor Tom Blake. After Blake was targeted in an anonymous letter questioning his character, he withdrew, then re-entered the party caucus.

This week Dill defended a campaign video that shows her stepping on a stone that marks South Portland’s freedom tree.

The red maple, planted in 1973 in honor of Capt. John E. Duffy and all prisoners of war and those missing in action, is located near the South Portland Public Library.

Dill said the tree is the actual memorial as opposed to the stone bearing the plaque, but added “would I step up on the rock again? Probably not.” 

The ad has been featured on her website and Dill said she was sorry “if real live veterans are offended, I’ll be happy to have a discussion.”

Staff Writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219.