Two Cape Elizabeth residents with diverse legal and public service experience are vying for the Democratic nomination for the House District 30 seat in the June 12 primary election.

Anne Carney, a former equity partner in the Portland law firm Norman, Hanson & DeTroy, and Mary Ann Lynch, former legislative liaison for the Maine Judicial Branch, are running for the seat held for nearly eight years by Democratic state Rep. Kimberly Monaghan, who is termed out office in November.

District 30 represents nearly all of Cape Elizabeth, except for a sliver along the South Portland border that’s part of District 32. The winner of the Democratic nomination will run against Republican Charles Rich of Cape Elizabeth in November.

Carney, 55, said she was inspired to run after one of her daughters called her in despair over the election of President Trump, but her reasons for seeking office have broadened since then.

“I’m really thinking about the future of Maine and the future of our country,” said Carney, who has practiced law for 26 years, most recently doing pro bono work for low-income people through Pine Tree Legal Assistance.

That volunteer work added to her previous experience as an employment, civil rights and municipal litigation expert, representing individuals, companies and communities from Portland to Moose River.

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“I’ve spent time in every pocket of Maine,” Carney said. “It has given me a statewide perspective that would be useful working with other legislators to strengthen our economy, improve our schools and protect the environment.”

Carney said she sees herself collaborating with other thoughtful, hardworking legislators to advance a nonpartisan agenda based on strategic goal-setting, a skill she developed as a leader of the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust.

Carney said she supports alternative energy to reduce fossil fuel consumption and stem climate change, as well as other efforts to protect the environment for its broad health, economic and quality of life benefits.

Carney said she would promote sustainable industries, fully funded education to fill 21st century jobs, statewide high-speed internet, affordable health care for all Mainers and access to all reproductive health services.

As a fellow Democrat, Lynch shares many of Carney’s views, but she offers a different sort of experience after working daily in the Legislature for a decade representing the state’s court system.

“I’m running to put my experience in state and local government to work for the people of Cape Elizabeth,” said Lynch, 62, who also was a town councilor from 2001 to 2008, including two years each as council chairwoman and finance chairwoman.

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Lynch also set herself apart from Carney by choosing to be a publicly financed Clean Election candidate “because I’ve seen the impact of special interest money at the state level,” she said.

According to the latest campaign finance reports, Lynch had raised and spent $1,000 in seed money contributions on yard signs, palm cards and Facebook promotions, while Carney had raised $3,870 in individual contributions and spent $1,450 on website design, a campaign kickoff event, a campaign consultant and mailing supplies.

A nonpracticing attorney, Lynch said she wants to continue to serve her community by advancing the priorities of townspeople she’s met while campaigning door to door.

“I don’t have a personal agenda,” Lynch said. “I see myself as a true representative.”

Lynch said she would work to restore the town’s diminished education funding, restrict guns with high-capacity magazines and promote health care access for all Mainers.

Lynch said Maine has suffered a setback in protecting the environment and reducing its reliance on carbon-based fuels because of Gov. Paul LePage’s opposition to clean, renewable energy. She said climate change is a global issue that must be addressed locally to preserve open space, fisheries and other environmental resources.


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