FALMOUTH, Maine — Democrat Cathy Breen claimed an unofficial seven-vote margin of victory Wednesday morning in the Maine Senate District 25 election.
And despite the narrow defeat, her Republican challenger said she will not seek a recount unless convinced to do so by her staff and party.
Similarly, Democrat Teresa Pierce eked out a close win over Republican Gregory Payeur in House District 44.
Rep. Mark Dion, D-Portland, easily won re-election in House District 43.
Senate District 25
Breen, a Falmouth resident, held a razor-thin lead over Cathy Manchester of Gray, 10,897 to 10,890.
“I feel very honored by the win and I feel eager to represent the voters of District 25,” Breen said.
Manchester said she will not seek a recount, unless the state automatically does one or the Republican Party calls for one.
“I certainly wouldn’t want to waste the state’s resources on that,” Manchester said.
Under state law, a candidate must file with the secretary of state for a recount within five business days of the election. There is no automatic trigger, and parties cannot file on their own.
If the difference between the two candidates is less than 2 percent, the candidate filing for a recount does not have to pay a deposit. Otherwise, depending on the difference, he or she would have to pay a deposit of anywhere between $500 and $10,000.
Manchester said she enjoyed the campaign, but said it also had its downside.
“I am disheartened with the partisanship and negative ads, and saddened that our Maine politics that stretching truth and lies are commonplace,” she said.
The district, which was previously represented by independent Sen. Richard Woodbury of Yarmouth, includes Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gray, Long Island, Yarmouth and part of Westbrook. Woodbury endorsed Breen.
“I’m just looking forward to getting to work,” Breen said. “I’d like to thank my opponent for a great race.”
Breen served on the Falmouth Town Council from 2005 until 2011, and was a two-term chairwoman. She was also on the board of directors for Spurwink Services.
Manchester, a real estate broker, was also Norway’s chief of police from 1990 to 1995. She served on Gray’s Town Council for one year, from 2009-2010.
“The bottom line is that the senator is a representation of people’s views and wishes, and in this district it appears that people spoke,” Manchester said. “And if the vote holds I’ll offer my whole-hearted congrats to Cathy Breen.”
House District 43
Dion, a former Cumberland County Sheriff and city police officer, easily won a third term representing portions of northern Portland and west Falmouth in what is now House District 43. Dion defeated Republican Shannon Rafferty-Roy, 2,144 to 959.
House District 44
Pierce, a former three-term town councilor, narrowly defeated Payeur, who had never previously sought political office.
She received just under 52 percent of the vote, 2,586 to 2,438, and said she was excited to have won such a close race.
“I’m just going to start digging into the issues that will come up in Augusta,” Pierce said. “I’m not sure what the governor has in mind, and there are races still undecided. But I’m anxious just to get going. Being new to it all I don’t know all the next steps.”
Payeur, who said the race was well orchestrated on both sides, said one of the main comments he heard was that it never got dirty.
“There was not one nasty thing on either side, which is how I like things,” he said. “Spreading hate doesn’t help anything.”
Pierce also commended the clean campaign, saying it was a testament to both candidates.
“It’s unfortunate that more contests aren’t just about that,” she said. “I think [Payeur] is a class act, a true gentleman, it was a pleasure to run against him and with him. It’s unfortunate we can’t say that about all the races.”
Payeur said he isn’t sure what will come next for him, but also said he didn’t see any glaring errors in the way he ran for the seat.
“What it comes down to is about 74 people if they had voted another way would have changed the election,” he said.
District 44 was formerly House District 112, represented by Democratic Rep. Mary Nelson, who chose not to seek a fourth term.