Never mind

In a recent flap over whether the state’s end-of-the-fiscal-year surplus was something for Democrats to crow about, House Speaker John Richardson turned on Sen. Chandler Woodcock for not being upfront with voters about his conservative views.

“Chandler Woodcock is refusing to define himself,” Richardson told statehouse reporters, whom he initially called together to chastise Woodcock for allegedly saying that surplus tax revenue should be given back to taxpayers.

“He’s a flip-flopper,” Richardson said.

When he was told by reporters that Woodcock never made such a statement, Richardson said, “I do retract it,” and then made the leap to saying Woodcock had not been forthright about his view on creationism or the origins of the human race.

Referring to Woodcock as a “lay minister” and saying he should tell the truth, Richardson said if Woodcock supports “teaching creationism in schools he ought to say it.”

Told of the press conference, Woodcock chided the speaker, asking, “Is John Richardson making a late run at governor here?”

“Someone is giving him marching orders to make me answer questions that aren’t relevant,” Woodcock said. “Obviously what they’re trying to do is deflect from the issue that we have to address. The issue of our economy.”

Woodcock said he did come out in support of teaching creationism, along with intelligent design and evolution, when asked at a forum on the campaign trail during the Republican primary.

“My response was that the school boards should have control. If they choose to do so, I, as a person, would love to see the three principles taught – creationism, intelligent design and evolution,” Woodcock said.

“This has not been my issue from the beginning. They’d like to make it. It isn’t part of my agenda,” he said.

Replacement players

Of the 38 legislative candidates who dropped out of their respective races after the primary, all but seven have been replaced by their parties and those seven are all Republican slots.

Parties had until Monday to replace candidates, 27 of whom were Republicans, nine Democrats and two greens.

Seven of the vacancies were for Senate seats, and all but one was filled, leaving Senate President Beth Edmonds running unopposed. As expected, a vacancy in Somerset County was filled by Sen. Peter Mills, who will be running for his old seat after a failed bid for governor in the Republican primary.

In the Senate district now being served by Sen. Philip Bartlett, candidate and former Republican Sen. Carolyn Gilman was replaced by Jane Willett.

In House races, Democrat Clifford Norton will face Republican candidate Joseph Tibbetts for the seat being vacated by Rep. Ed Dugay, D-Cherryfield, who is termed out.

In District 42, incumbent Rep. Jeff Kaelin, R-Winterport, has been replaced by Michael Thibodeau, who will run against Democrat Donna Gilbert. In District 65, Republican Susan Wasserott will face incumbent Rep. Carol Grose, D-Woolwich. In District 66, Republican Todd Rider will face incumbent Rep. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick. Green Candidate David Frans also is running in that race.

In District 103, Democrat Lu Bauer will face incumbent Rep. John Robinson, R-Raymond. In District 106, Republican Marguerite Migliaccio will face incumbent Rep. David Webster, D-Freeport.

In District 127, for a seat held by Rep. Darlene Curley, R-Scarborough, who is running for Congress, Republican John McDonough will run against Democrat Shawn Babine.