WATERVILLE — Democrats chose Rep. Pamela Jabar Trinward as their candidate in the Senate District 25 race after a contested caucus Tuesday night.

Trinward, of Waterville, received 82 votes while Peter Garrett, a Winslow hydro-geologist, got 28. Because Trinward had already registered to run for re-election to the House, Waterville Democrats will now need to choose a replacement candidate in House District 77.

“The next Legislature will face enormous challenges – there are no easy answers, no quick fixes,” she told the crowd gathered in the Waterville Senior High School auditorium.

Trinward has served nearly four years in the House, most recently as House chairwoman of the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee. She said she’s worked to reform ethics laws, clarify the Clean Elections process and simplify voting.

Trinward fills the vacancy left after Assistant Senate Majority Leader Lisa Marrache, D-Waterville, announced recently that she was dropping out of the race. Marrache, who had served 10 years in the Legislature, said she could no longer balance the demands of her family and medical practice with the legislative post.

Garrett, 65, said he had hoped to use his experience as a scientist – he was the state’s first hazardous waste hydro-geologist – to help improve the Department of Environmental Protection. In June, he lost the House District 54 Democratic primary to Catherine Nadeau.

Tuesday’s decision further firms up the field running for 35 Senate seats in November. Democrats hope to hold on to their 20-15 margin.

Last week, Democrats in Hallowell chose Patrice Putman to run in Senate District 21 to replace Rep. Nancy Smith, who said her new job forced her to drop out of the race.

Trinward will face Republican Thomas H. Martin Jr. of Benton in the race for the district covering Albion, Benton, Clinton, Unity Township, Waterville, Winslow, Detroit and Pittsfield.

 

MaineToday Media State House Reporter Susan Cover can be contacted at 620-7015 or at: scover@centralmaine.com