David Sinclair, local attorney and Bath city councilor, will run for state Senate as a Democrat in the special election to replace Seth Goodall of Richmond.
Goodall is resigning to become regional Small Business Administrator for New England.
Sinclair made the announcement in a news release late Friday. He is joining a race that already includes Democrat Eloise Vitelli — longtime director of Women, Work, and Community, a nonprofit resource center for women reentering the work force.
The winner of the Democratic primary will likely face Republican Paula Benoit of Phippsburg, former senator for District 19, which includes Sagadahoc County and the town of Dresden. So far, Benoit is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Sinclair recently gained some visibility by speaking out regarding the city’s sale of the former Bath Hospital at 2 Davenport Circle. In last week’s council meeting, he requested a public meeting about how the sale was completed. That meeting will take place July 24 at 6 p.m.
Sinclair has been a member of the Bath City Council since 2008.
“I believe my experience in municipal government will aid me in legislating and advocating effectively for District 19 as Seth Goodall’s municipal experience helped him,” he said.
He went on to say he believes that all legislators should be more independent and less polarized.
“The focus of this election and the nominating caucuses should not be on who can be the best Democrat, or the best Republican, but rather on who can be the best senator for District 19,” he said. “We should ask ourselves a simple question, ‘What can I do to make the situation better?’”
Sinclair said he had been giving thought to running for election before Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, made his decision not to seek Goodall’s seat.
Sinclair plans to attend the Democratic meetings coming up over the next few weeks, and hopes to have a chance to engage in debate with Vitelli at those meetings.
Sinclair may face an uphill battle for the seat. Berry, the House majority leader, has already thrown his support behind Vitelli.
Vitelli, of Arrowsic, spoke briefly about Sinclair’s entry into the race.
“Sagadahoc is fortunate to have a number of qualified individuals interested in this important race. I look forward to sharing my vision with the voters,” she said.
A date for the election has not yet been scheduled.
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