Senate District 22 will likely be an important district in the state Senate race for both Democrats and Republicans.

Incumbent Sen. Christine Savage (R-Union) is termed out. State Reps. David Miramant (D-Camden) and Christopher Rector (R-Thomaston) are competing for the seat.

Both Republicans and Democrats have held the seat in the past.

Here we’ll look at the district’s recent electoral voting history, bills the two candidates have sponsored and how they voted on key pieces of legislation.

The district’s recent electoral history:

• 2006: Savage won 8,845 to 7,995
• 2004: Savage won 11,642 to 9,408
• 2002 (Then Senate District 12): Savage won 9,134 to 6,514
• 2000: Savage beat Judith Powers (D-Rockport) 10,236 to 8,909
• 1998: Chellie Pingree (D-North Haven) got 7,736 votes, with a Republican getting 4,329 votes and an independent getting 903 votes
• 1996: Pingree won 12,519 to 5,129
• 1994: Pingree won 8,871 to 6,238

Bills the candidates sponsored in the 123rd Legislature:

Bills Miramant sponsored that have passed:

• LD 213: “An Act To Establish an Airport Managers Training Program”
• LD 938: “An Act To Delay Implementation of Motor Vehicle Inspection Rules until Inspectors Have Rules in Hand for 5 Days”

Bills Miramant co-sponsored that have passed:

• LD 392: "An Act To Establish Penalties for Violation of the Severance Pay Law"
• LD 1040: "An Act To Increase College Attainment"
• LD 1135: "An Act To Allow Municipal Cost Sharing for County Services"
• LD 1234: "An Act To Require Clear Warnings on Light Bulbs Containing Mercury"
• LD 1851: "An Act To Establish the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Act of 2007"

Bills Rector has sponsored that have passed:

• LD 751: “An Act To Modernize Maine's Accountancy Laws”
• LD 844: “An Act To Change the Name of the Division of Labor Market Information Services to the Center for Workforce Research and Information”
• LD 905: “An Act To Amend the Maine Administrative Procedure Act To Strengthen Safeguards for Small Businesses”
• LD 2175: “Resolve, To Ensure Support for a Model of Consolidated and Integrated Secondary and Postsecondary Education”

Bills Rector has co-sponsored that have passed:

• LD 441: "An Act To Restructure the Board of Commissioners of the Maine State Housing Authority To Closely Match Local Authorities"
• LD 565: "An Act To Remove the Sunset on the Exemption of Internet Services from Auctioneer Licensure Requirements"
• LD 780: "An Act To Enhance Redevelopment of Mill Buildings"
• LD 1620: "An Act To Provide for the 2007 and 2008 Allocations of the State Ceiling on Private Activity Bonds"
• LD 2081: "An Act To Prohibit the Retail Sale and Distribution of Novelty Lighters"
• LD 2185: "An Act To Provide for the 2008 and 2009 Allocations of the State Ceiling on Private Activity Bonds"

How the candidates voted on key legislation:

• LD 499 – The 2007 budget, included school district consolidation (Enactment) -- Miramant: Yes; Rector: Yes
• LD 24 – An act to make failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense (Enactment) -- Miramant: No; Rector: Yes
• LD 805 – An act to allow slot machines in Washington County (Enactment) -- This bill was passed by the Legislature and vetoed by the governor. It was an initiated bill, so it went out to the voters, who rejected it. Miramant: No; Rector: No
•  LD 1925 – 2007 tax reform bill that would have increased the sales tax in some areas and decreased the income tax (Final passage). The effort failed in the Senate. Miramant: Yes; Rector: No
• LD 1928 – Extend legislative term limits from four to six terms (Enactment) -- This bill sent the issue to voters, who rejected it. Miramant: Yes; Rector: No
• LD 2309 – Change driver’s license laws, requires Mainers to prove residency (Passage to be engrossed) -- Miramant: Absent; Rector: Yes
• LD 2247 – Expanded Dirigo by changing funding, adds a tax on beer, wine and soda (enactment) -- Miramant: Yes; Rector: No