BATH — Bath Democrats have picked their nominee for the House District 52 special election.

At their caucus Tuesday night at Bath City Hall, Democratic voters from Bath selected City Councilor Sean Paulhus to represent them in the race to replace former Rep. Jennifer DeChant, who unexpectedly resigned Feb. 1 for a job in the private sector.

Nearly 100 Democrats turned out to vote Tuesday, choosing between Paulhus and Bath City Council Chairwoman Mari Eosco, the only other candidate running for the nomination.

Paulhus positioned himself as someone knowledgable about the legislature who could hit the ground running in Augusta. With the legislative session already underway and the winner of the special election not being seated until the tail end of the session, Paulhus argued that whoever wins will need to know how to operate in the State House.

“When that new representative starts in April, we only have April, we have May, and we may have June. That’s right when the legislature is going to be heating up,” said Paulhus. “We need someone who can jump in right quick and really get to work.”

Paulhus also highlighted his experience in the Democratic Party, of which he said he’s been a member since he was 18. Paulhus’ long-term involvement with the party was a contrast with Eosco, who only enrolled in the party this month. Eosco explained that being nonpartisan was a strength while serving on the city council and working with everyone in Bath, but when it came time to work in the legislature she had to choose a party and she felt like she was in line with the values of the Democratic Party.

In her final appeal to voters at the caucus, Eosco pointed to her involvement in the community, first as the on-again, off-again executive director of Main Street Bath, a nonprofit that promotes Bath’s downtown and organizes events in the city, and then as a city councilor. Eosco argued that her deep knowledge of Bath and the people and businesses in it would make her a strong candidate.

“I love this city. I know this city. I’m not sure there are many people who know more about what’s going on in this city than I know,” said Eosco.

In the end, Paulhus won out, in a 54-39 vote.

Bath Republicans already picked their nominee during their caucus Monday night: Retired US Navy Capt. Kenneth Sener.

“As a non-politician, it is a humbling honor to receive the Bath GOP nomination as candidate for State House seat 52,” said Sener in a statement. “I am looking forward to the campaign, and if elected will make every effort to fairly represent all of the citizens of Bath.”

Both Sener and Paulhus will face a third-party challenge from Bath resident Christopher Hallowell, who is running as a Libertarian and was nominated during a Libertarian Party of Maine Executive Committee meeting earlier this month.

The special election is set for Tuesday, April 2.

nstrout@timesrecord.com

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