A simple way to sum up the race to replace Rep. Philip Cressey in Maine House District 99 would be to say it is about youth against experience.

The simplicity is clouded by the common intense desire of both candidates to advocate for the district.

Denmark Selectman Ralph A. Sarty Jr., 62, and Kate Smith, 31, of Sebago, were selected by Republican and Democrat party caucuses Sept. 22 to run for the seat declared vacant after Cressey resigned Sept. 11. The election will be held Nov. 6.

Sarty, a Republican, was nominated over Limington resident Charles Huntress while Smith, a Democrat who lost against Cressey in 2006, faced no opposition in her effort to bear the party standard again.

The difference in ages and Sarty’s years as a game warden, criminal investigator with the Maine State Police, deputy in the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, and owner of a Denmark art gallery make the assessment valid, but both candidates bring experience in elected office to the race.

Smith, a physical therapist at Bridgton Hospital, was elected to the SAD 61 school board from Sebago in July.

Both spent a lot of time this summer evaluating whether the state-suggested model of merging school administrative districts 55, 72 and 61 would actually save local taxpayers money and still provide quality education.

“We don’t fit the equation as well as legislators hoped,” said Smith about the regionalization plan. A legislative remedy she suggested may be to allow individual towns to leave school districts and join those that make a better match.

“The concept is excellent, with a lot of value,” Sarty said, “but it was done in a way that was ludicrous.”

As a member of both local and regional boards exploring consolidation options, Sarty faulted the process that asked committee members to consider the biggest change in education in 50 years in a matter of weeks.

Both candidates intend to keep their local seats if elected to the Legislature, seeing the dual duties as a method of adding local knowledge and concern to state spending and policy decisions.

The district, which is comprised of Baldwin, Cornish, Denmark, Limington and Sebago, encompasses three counties and four school districts, but Smith and Sarty said voter concerns remain common throughout the district with school consolidation plans, roads, affordable health care and tax relief all high priorities.

Smith, who took time away from last year’s campaign to give birth to her daughter Rhiannon Apple, said her ability to listen, her sincerity and energy are the primary qualities she will take to Augusta. Serving on the school board has emphasized the need to avoid preconceived notions about ideas and listen closely, she added.

Sarty, who frequently worked with the Legislature while employed at state agencies and on a task force exploring ways to preserve access to Maine’s wilderness areas, said the number of unaffiliated voters in district towns shows wide disenchantment. He said it is caused by legislators in both parties lacking honesty when explaining policies and breaking promises to voters.

In discussing tax reform, Smith and Sarty also said revisions to the excise tax for vehicles could produce some tax relief, but could also be troublesome for towns relying on excise taxes to pay for road maintenance. Any drop in those revenues would create the need for reduced services or property tax hikes.

Smith suggested reducing income tax rates as the best method to get tax relief, but added new ways of getting revenue would be needed to avoid cuts in services. She also suggested the state does not effectively show citizens how they are benefiting from the taxes they pay.

“You can’t offer tax reform without cuts in spending,” Sarty said, adding he would like to see better efforts at luring businesses to the state by reducing the tax burden and regulatory hurdles businesses face when considering Maine.

While Sarty may hold an edge in the years of service over Smith, the call to duty is one that resonates strongly in her family, as her husband Greg is running for selectman in Sebago after a bid last year for the town budget committee. He also is a member of the ad hoc committee studying district consolidation issues in SAD 61.

“Is there ever an election without a Smith running?” joked Kate Smith.

The call to duty is also heard strongly by Sarty, who said his goal is to improve communication with voters and legislators so the full intent and effects of proposed policy are discussed even as voters work at their jobs and raise families.

Ralph Sarty Jr.