Editor,

It’s rare to see an act as honorable, statesmanlike, and unselfish as Michael Shaw’s recent withdrawal from the contested election for House District 102.

On election night, non-partisan election staff named Shaw the winner. Of all of our new candidates, Mike ran one of the most upbeat and energetic campaigns. Mike Shaw had his heart set on representing the people of Standish.

But the race was close enough to necessitate a recount. In the recount, Mike came up short. This recount result was contested: there were more ballots than voters. Apparently, some ballots were accidentally cast from another town. No one knows which ballots were wrongly cast. There’s no way of knowing for sure who actually won.

The obvious solution? A new election.

Only a fraction of the Standish electorate would turn out for a February special election. A February special election would also put much of the business of the legislature on hold.

It would have been entirely justified for Shaw to demand a special election in Standish. I believe Mike would have won. Instead Shaw put the best interests of the citizens ahead of his own interests. Mike made it possible for the legislature to get down to business immediately without the major distraction of a hotly contested February election (an election that would inevitably have a small turnout).

In 2006, hundreds upon hundreds of Standish residents met the same Shaw I’ve gotten to know: a straight-forward honorable guy, always friendly, always optimistic, always taking the high road. Lucky for all of us, Shaw plans to stay involved and run for the seat again. By his statesmanlike conduct in this incredibly close election, Shaw has already proven himself a class act who would enhance the quality of Maine’s legislature.

Rep. Sean Faircloth

House Majority Whip