 |
| Rosemarie De Angelis |
SOUTH PORTLAND — The upcoming party primary elections promise something fairly
uncommon in South Portland politics — an actual contested race.
Former City Councilor Rosemarie De Angelis and political newcomer
Tim Smith have both taken out papers seeking the Democratic Party nomination
for State House District 33. That constituency, currently known as District 124
and served by Democrat Bryan Kaenrath, covers the western part of the city,
including the Pleasantdale and Red Bank neighborhoods, the Maine Mall
commercial district, and the northern parts of Cash Corner and Thornton
Heights.
Kaenrath came out the worse for wear in the city’s only contested
primary race in 2012, when he lost a fight with Cape Elizabeth’s Rebecca
Millett to succeed Cynthia Dill, who vacated State Senate District 7 to launch
a bid, ultimately unsuccessful, for the U.S. Senate.
Kaenrath was able to get on the ballot as a replacement candidate
for his old seat when Democrat Andrew Capone-Sprague withdrew from the race. He
then went on to defeat Republican Kevin Battle in November.
 |
| Tim Smith |
However, having now been elected to four consecutive terms, Kaenrath
is barred from running a fifth time, due to term limits imposed by Maine voters
in 1993
At the Democratic Party caucus, held Sunday at the South Portland
Community Center on Nelson Road, Kaenrath said whoever fills his shoes as the
Democratic Party standard-bearer will have a tough row to hoe.
“We will literally have a battle on our hands,” he said, referring
to Battle, the presumed Republican opponent.
“I won with just 52 percent of the vote last time, so this is a
district that could go either way,” said Kaenrath.
“This race is considered a top priority by the state Democratic
committee,” said Matt Beck, who was re-elected Sunday as chairman of the
municipal Democratic committee.
On Tuesday, state Democratic Party chairman Ben Grant, of Portland,
said it’s too early in the election cycle to name District 33 a “top priority,”
but the race is one his side is keeping an eye on.
“We
are heavily invested in keeping our majority in the House, so we will be
closely watching District 33,” he said. “South Portland has been very well
represented by Rep. Kaenrath, and we want to make sure it stays Democratic
going forward. This is an important seat, since we maintain strongholds in
Portland and South Portland. We won't want to see any GOP inroads made in those
areas.”
Even
so, the state party is not placing its chips with either De Angelis or Smith,
betting on either as the best opponent to face Battle.
“We
are not taking a position in this primary, and very rarely do in any primary,”
said Grant. “As for resources, that is a decision we make much later in the
year, once we have some evidence in hand of the need in this district versus
other districts.”
On Monday, Republic Party state chairman Rick Bennett, of Oxford,
said his side also has yet to dedicate dollars to key races, but said he likes
Battle’s chances, deeming the House 33 race a “can win,” if not a “must win.”
“There is no question that 2012 was a terrible year for
Republicans statewide, but Kevin proved that even in a difficult year, he could
be a formidable opponent. With things that are happening nationally, and with
Gov. LePage and Susan Collins at the top of the ticket, we think this is going
to be a good year.”
Battle, 56, said Monday he already has collected the requisite
number of signatures needed to get on the ballot, and only needs to turn them
in to be validated.
Asked what he would do differently this time out, Battle said he
needed to “knock on more doors,” although a bum knew worn free of cartilage
from a career in the Coast Guard, plus 27 years as a South Portland beat cop,
make getting around hard, even when all goes well.
“It was interesting. I did get a couple of doors slammed in my
face last year as soon as they asked what party I was running for,” he said.
“But most people were vary nice. I learned a lot and, as a first time
candidate, I think I did okay.”
Battle said he “absolutely maybe” can win in November, and hopes
only that he and his eventual opponent can “keep in friendly and not make it
personal.”
“That’s what Bryan [Kaenrath] and I agreed to last year,” said
Battle. “He’s a very nice guy and we didn’t attack each other at all. I’d like
to see that be the case again this year. I don’t think people in Maine want any
of the nastiness.”
However, before Battle, who still works as a deputy harbor master
for Casco Bay, can get the chance the initiate peaceful proceedings, the
Democrats will have to decide which candidate will meet him on the field.
De
Angelis, 61, of Buttonwood Street, holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of
Maine at Orono. She has worked as a guardian ad litem and Family Court mediator
since 2001, and has been on the adjunct faculty of Southern Maine Community
College since 2002, prior to which she logged 30 years teaching in the public school
system. She served two terms on the South Portland City Council, from 2003-2006
and from 2009-2012. She was the city’s mayor in 2011.
Smith, 25, also attended the University of Maine,
earning his undergraduate degree with a double major in history and philosophy.
A Lewiston native, he has lived in South Portland for almost three years, on
Fillmore Avenue, and currently works as a realtor for the Maine Real Estate
Network.
“Rosemarie has been good for the city, but I think
the party will come out and select the best candidate for the seat,” said
Smith. “I’ve always been interested in politics and it’s always been a dream of
mine to get into the legislature to help the people of Maine. I think our
society at large is best served by a populace that’s enriched by programs that
help them get ahead, so they can contribute to the community, rather than just
doing away with the social safety net that we’ve developed.”
Describing himself as an “ardent environmentalist,”
Smith said, “I would like the people to South Portland to know that I am here
to fight for their interests energetically in the state legislature, to keep
health care here, to keep our environment clean and to keep jobs — clean jobs —
coming into this city and the state.”
Smith said he sees his age as a positive factor in
the upcoming campaign.
“Being somebody who is fresh and knows lots of young
people in the area, I’d really be able to reach out to those who may be feeling
disenfranchised from both parties, to be their advocate and to help them get
ahead,” he said.
De Angelis who is know for her work with young
people, particularly young immigrants, through the Color of Community project,
said she was urged to run by Kaenrath.
“He actually texted me to consider it because he
wants there to be a good, strong candidate in there,” she said. “I think I
understand the Democratic Platform and I think I represent the issues of the
Democratic Party. But I’m also an independent thinker enough to make decisions
on my own.
“I worked at the local level for a long time,” said
De Angelis. “I really loved local politics and being able to resolve things for
constituents locally. This is the first time that I’ve really given any serious
consideration to working at the state level. So, this would be a new venture
for me. I would love to have the support of the people of South Portland and I
am happy to meet with anybody to flesh out issue and concerns, to learn and
know the ropes.
In her presentation to party members Sunday
— about 35 people attended South Portland’s Democratic caucus — De Angelis
listed her priorities as “protecting marriage equality, promoting universal
healthcare and ensuring funding for education,” as well as working to “save the
environment” and “support religious freedom.”
“ I also think and strengthening our economy and
energizing our workforce are two top priorities, overall, to preserve this seat
for Democrats,” said De Angelis. “We need a strong Democrat who knows this
community well. I’ve lived here or 20 year and worked in this community for
over 35. I am very committed to South Portland.”
“Although I grew up in Lewiston, both sides of my
family are from South Portland,” said Smith, “ and I chose to move back to this
great city immediately after college.
“Things in the Blaine House have been backwards to
say he least for the past four years and I am running to be a voice for South
Portland, to rally against the governor’s decisions on health care and revenue
sharing. It’s a tough enough economy as it is for working people like myself to
get by.”
