October 30, 2008 - 14:49
News: Maine

House race ratings: Oxford County

PolitickerME.com has evaluated all 151 state House ratings by looking at the candidates, their histories and past results. We also spoke with people close to the process.

Click on the links for a county-by-county assessment:

ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY | AROOSTOOK COUNTY | CUMBERLAND COUNTY | FRANKLIN COUNTY | HANCOCK COUNTY | KENNEBEC COUNTY | KNOX COUNTY | LINCOLN COUNTY | OXFORD COUNTY | PENOBSCOT COUNTY | PISCATAQUIS COUNTY | SAGADAHOC COUNTY | SOMERSET COUNTY | WALDO COUNTY | WASHINGTON COUNTY | YORK COUNTY

Click here for an overall evaluation.

 

Oxford County

 

House District 91 – Tossup: Incumbent Timothy Carter (D-Bethel) is up against Jarrod Crockett (R-Bethel). In what is traditionally a Republican seat, Carter lost his first bid in 2004, but came back and won by about 60 votes in 2006. Carter used to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is respected in the area for that work. Crockett is a young, energetic attorney. Both are working hard, and the Democratic Party has spent $2,700 on the race. This district is on the border with New Hampshire, and Crockett is taking advantage of the Question 1 debate to tout his stance on low taxes.

H.D. 92 – Leans Democrat: Incumbent John Patrick (D-Rumford) is termed out, leaving the seat open for Matthew Peterson (D-Rumford) and Robert Cameron (R-Rumford). Cameron used to hold this seat and is now on the town council, so he has the name recognition. However, enrollment in the district is heavily Democratic, and the Democratic Party has spent $2,700 on the race. Although he is in a wheelchair, Peterson is still out campaigning hard, and we suspect he’ll have the advantage.

H.D. 93 – Safe Democrat: Incumbent Sheryl Briggs (D-Mexico) is up against two independent candidates, William Hine of Peru and Trevis Knapp of Dixfield. Though independents often bring an unpredictable dynamic to these races, every indication shows that Briggs is safe.

H.D. 94 – Leans Democrat: Incumbent Terry Hayes (D-Buckfield) is up against Joe Robinson (R-Paris), the father of Rep. John Robinson (R-Raymond). Traditionally this is a Republican seat, but Hayes squeaked through with a narrow victory in 2006. Both parties have made independent expenditures in this race, an indication that it is a good one to watch. Still, Hayes writes handwritten notes to all her constituents, is working hard, and will likely prevail.

H.D. 95—Safe Republican: Incumbent Sawin Millett (R-Waterford) is up against Russell Newcomb (D-Norway). Millett is a long-time incumbent who is very well known and respected in the Legislature. Given the dynamics of the district, he will still have a good race, but most likely will pull it off.

H.D. 97 – Tossup: Incumbent Roberta Muse (R-Fryeburg) is leaving, opening the seat up for David Knapp (R-Fryeburg) and Helen Rankin (D-Hiram). Rankin is a long-time employee of the school system, and is very well-known in the district. Knapp has the backing of Muse, which our sources say will give him a boost. The Democrats have invested $2,700 in this race, and while this could be a good pick-up opportunity for them, we’re not quite ready to make that call just yet.

H.D. 100 – Leans Republican: Incumbent Jim Hamper (R-Oxford) is up against James Bradley (D-Mechanic Falls). Hamper defeated Bradley by nearly 1,000 votes in 2006, however, this is an old match-up with a new twist. Question 2 asks voters if they want to approve a casino in Oxford. This is something that Hamper opposes, which could cause problems for him – depending on the sentiment toward the referendum question in his district.

 

 

Jessica Alaimo is a PolitickerME.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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