WOOLWICH — Rep. Allison Hepler, a Democrat, was re-elected to serve a second term representing House District 53 in the Maine House of Representatives. The district includes Arrowsic, Dresden, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Woolwich and part of Richmond.

Hepler narrowly claimed victory, collecting 3,128 votes, while her Republican opponent Jeffrey Pierce, received 2,966 votes, according to preliminary results.

“I’m very grateful to the people of House District 53 for sending me back to Augusta,” Hepler said Wednesday. “There’s a lot of work to do and I’m ready to work with anyone with a good idea to get us all through this pandemic safely and help get businesses and schools back on their feet.”

Pierce said he doesn’t think he’ll ask for the ballots to be recounted, despite Hepler’s narrow win.

“If it’s within 30 votes maybe, but a recount is a hard obstacle,” said Pierce. “I haven’t ruled it out, but I’m not dying to have a recount. We’ll just keep our options open.”

He also said he doesn’t think he’ll run for another position in the Maine Legislature soon, but instead “focus on making some money.”

Woolwich residents also re-elected Hepler to serve a fourth term on that town’s select board on Tuesday.

“I’m grateful to all the people I represent,” said Hepler. “I promise to represent everyone and be as accessible and responsive as I have been. The five of us on the board are a good team and each of us brings a different talent and perspective.”

Hepler is an instructor at the University of Maine at Farmington, volunteers with Maine’s First Ship, the Woolwich Historical Society and the Patten Free Library board. She also is a member of the steering committee for Age-Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec.

Pierce, a former state representative, lost his reelection bid to Hepler in 2018 following a campaign in which the Maine Democratic Party released details of his criminal record.

Pierce was convicted on charges he sold cocaine and marijuana to an undercover state trooper in 1983 and had other misdemeanor offenses between 1980 and 2006, including two convictions for driving under the influence, according to state background check records.

Pierce was pardoned by former Republican Gov. Paul LePage in late 2018. However, the pardon did not expunge his record.

He picked up another misdemeanor charge in May 2019 when he failed to disclose his felony when applying for a hunting license, but that was ultimately dismissed by Lincoln County District Attorney Natasha Irving.

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