Dennis Ela announced Tuesday that he will seek the nomination to replace Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, as the candidate for House District 129. Barstow announced Monday he would not be seeking a fourth term in office.

Barstow’s announcement came three weeks after Barstow resigned his position as director of the Buxton Recreation Department and Buxton police opened an investigation into his handling of town funds.

“I will finish serving my current term, and do my best to help Gorham residents get the most out of their state government for as long as I serve,” Barstow said in a prepared statement. “But it has been a challenging time personally for my family, and I recognize that recent matters involving my professional career will be a distraction to Maine voters during what should be an especially positive and exciting election season for our state.”

In an interview, Barstow, 30, who has a wife and three young children, said, “At this time I’m entering back into private life and trying to be the best father and husband I can be.”

Ela, a retired educator and Gorham resident, said Barstow was an impressive legislator. “I have a lot of respect for what he did,” said Ela.

Ela thinks Barstow made a tough decision by dropping out of the race, but thinks the move put the needs of Gorham ahead of Barstow’s personal needs.

Jane Knapp, the Gorham Republican vying for Barstow’s seat this fall, said Barstow is a “nice young man,” and she wished him the best. She declined to comment further.

Rep. Donald Marean, a Republican representing Hollis and part of Buxton, also described Barstow as a “very nice guy,” and said the Buxton finance situation and Barstow’s drop from the race were “too bad.”

“A man is innocent until proven guilty,” Marean said. Barstow “worked hard at the State House. He was there all the time. He took his work very seriously.”

“I think Chris did a good job for Gorham,” he said.

Barstow, who made the announcement a day before the June primary, said he is not ruling out future bids for office.

With no Democratic candidate for district 129 officially on the ballot, the secretary of state will need to declare that a replacement candidate be nominated, according to Kate Simmons, House caucus director for the Maine Democratic Party. That should happen within the next few days, Simmons said, then a caucus should be held within two weeks of the declaration.

Ela will be up for official nomination at the caucus, but the nomination is open to any other Democrat in district 129 who wants to run against Jane Knapp for Barstow’s seat. All Democratic voters in district 129 will be invited to participate in the caucus.

Ela, 58, said he had been thinking of running for a House seat for some time. He has more than three decades of experience as an educator in Maine. He retired in 2004 as the middle school principal in Waterboro.

Chris Barstow released the following statement Monday:

It has been a distinct honor to serve the people of Gorham for the past six years in the State Legislature. During that time I have had the privilege to bring my community’s voice to Augusta, to connect my constituents with state agencies and services, and to work on legislation that impacts all Mainers, and hopefully helped the people who need it most.

I will finish serving my current term, and do my best to help Gorham residents get the most out of their state government for as long as I serve. But it has been a challenging time personally for my family, and I recognize that recent matters involving my professional career will be a distraction to Maine voters during what should be an especially positive and exciting election season for our state. I will not seek re-election this fall.

My family and I want to thank the people of Gorham from the bottom of our hearts for your support and kindness throughout my years of public service.

Dennis Ela announced on Tuesday he would seek the Democratic nomination for House District 129:

Dennis F. Ela, D – Gorham, announced Tuesday, June 10 that he is seeking the House District 129 seat to be vacated by State Representative Chris Barstow at the conclusion of the present term.

Ela, a Gorham resident for the past seventeen years, resides with his wife, Eileen, of thirty-nine years at 25 Valley View Drive. Ela earned his Batchelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham. The Ela’s son and family reside in Florida where he is an Orange County Deputy Sheriff.

Ela’s resume includes a broad range of responsibilities over 32 years in education. He taught both elementary and middle school levels, serving as a team leader, district certification chairperson, and baseball coach in Gorham. While working in Gorham, he served on the Baxter Library Building Committee in its early planning for library renovations. He served as a founding member and first president of the USM Athletic Association. As an administrator, Ela worked as an assistant principal, principal, and Windham’s first curriculum coordinator. He served seven years as the middle school principal at MSAD 57 in Waterboro and has done an interim principalship in Kittery since retiring in 2004. He continues to officiate collegiate and high school soccer while enjoying reading American history, gardening, hiking and golfing.

Ela released the following statement in conjunction with seeking the Democratic nomination for the House District 129 seat.

“I feel this is a critical time for Maine as we continue to deal with so many challenges and opportunities not only for Gorham but for the state as a whole. In pursuing this seat in the Maine House of Representatives, I will use the listening and leadership skills that enabled my success as a teacher and administrator to help Gorham residents with their governmental needs and concerns. I am anxious to work with constituents and legislators to improve the overall effectiveness of state government through its laws and policies.”