FREEPORT — Town Council Vice Chairwoman Sara Gideon is the Democratic candidate to replace state Rep. David Webster in House District 106 after defeating two challengers in the party primary Tuesday.

“It feels great because I really feel honored to have the Democrats in Freeport let me represent them,” Gideon said.

She won 51 percent of the vote in her race with political newcomer Melanie Sachs and Patrick Norton, the former director of the state Office of Policy and Legal Analysis. Gideon had 534 votes, Sachs received 470 and Norton had 46.

Gideon said she expected a tight race.

“I ran against two incredibly intelligent and thoughtful candidates who were really talented. I expected it to be a close race and I know we worked really hard,” she said.

Gideon will now face Republican Benjamin Martin in the Nov. 6 general election in  the district comprised of Freeport and part of Pownal. Martin was unopposed in the primary.

Advertisement

Webster is prohibited from running for a fifth term because of state term limit laws.

Sachs, who ran even with Gideon in Pownal at 19 votes each,  said she enjoyed the campaign.

“It has been an adventure and a joy the whole time. I am absolutely gratified by the support and had a wonderful time,” she said.

The $24.9 million Regional School Unit 5 budget was approved by an overall vote of 1,677 to 747. Freeport voters favored the budget 1,258 to 354; Durham voters approved the budget 314-247, and Pownal voters rejected it 146-105.

In primary races for the U.S. Senate, Freeport voters supported state Sen. Cynthia Dill in the Democratic primary, and Secretary of State Charles Summers in the GOP primary. Dill and Summers also won statewide to become their party’s nominees.

Patrick Calder, a Portland businessman, topped state Sen. Jon Courtney of Springvale, 264-148, in local Republican primary voting in the 1st Congressional District. The race was too close to call at press time.

Advertisement

Town Clerk Tracey Stevens said voter turnout was 25 percent.

David Harry can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or dharry@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidHarry8.

Story corrected June 14 to show Sara Gideon received 51 percent of vote with 534 total votes.

Sidebar Elements


Sara Gideon


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: