Of the four South Portland residents just elected to the Maine Legislature, Democrat Terry Morrison of B Street is the only newcomer to statewide office.

Morrison, a 37-year-old restaurant manager, will join Rep. Bryan Kaenrath, Rep. Jane Eberle and Sen. Larry Bliss – all fellow South Portland Democrats – when the Legislature convenes Jan. 7.

He says it is both humbling and exciting to win the Nov. 4 election, defeating Republican Brian Durham, another political newcomer.

“I am still on cloud nine,” said Morrison, a longtime organizer in the Democratic Party. “I am so grateful to be serving the voters.”

Morrison, who has lived in South Portland’s waterfront district for four years, is a manager at JP Thornton’s, located on Broadway near Anthoine Street. He said living and working in South Portland is “like living in a small town. There is a real sense of community. It is a good fit for me.”

Previously, Morrison lived in Portland and served as general manager at BagelWorks in the Old Port for nine years. “I’m an economist at heart. My biggest interest is in business development,” Morrison added.

Morrison, who is originally from Boothbay Harbor, said he especially is interested in attracting businesses to Maine that develop alternative energy sources, such as wind power.

Prior to running in 2008, Morrison never before had sought statewide political office. But he has been a campaign worker, including for Democratic Sen. Lynn Bromley of South

Portland, who will leave office this year because of term limits.

He also is vice chairman of the Cumberland County Democrats.

Morrison said the knowledge and experience of the South Portland delegation will help him with his learning curve in understanding and navigating the process of passing bills in Augusta.

He also noted the state lawmakers from Senate District 7 – which covers South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough – plan to meet regularly and work together to get critical issues passed for the municipalities they represent.

Representative-elect Sean Flaherty, D-Scarborough, said he expects to talk a lot with Morrison, given that the neighboring communities share a lot in common and that both men are first-time legislators.

“I’m looking forward to serving with Terry in Augusta,” he said.

Morrison said he is keenly aware of the pledges he made to voters and intends to try to carry out his message in office.

Although Democratic Gov. John Baldacci last week announced state spending cuts totaling $80 million that lawmakers will debate in January, Morrison said he opposes decreases to education.

“Some things are set in stone for me,” Morrison said. “I oppose education cuts, in K-12 and for colleges.”

But at the same time, Morrison said, he may support decreases in education spending that would not directly affect students’ education, such as reducing the number of security guards on the University of Southern Maine campus. The reduction was proposed in Baldacci’s spending cuts.

Likewise, Morrison said, he also does not want to cut spending for fire and police services, and is pledging to do what he can to make health care affordable. Morrison ran on a platform of promoting business growth and supporting universal health care.

He credits the large number of people voting for Democrats as helping to send him to office. But Morrison also notes that he knocked on 3,000 doors and had a hardworking campaign staff.

Denise Harlow, a long-time friend of Morrison and daughter of Portland lawmaker William Harlow, ran his campaign. Bill Collins, a South Portland firefighter, served as treasurer.

“Both did a brilliant job,” he said.

Morrison said running other people’s campaigns helped prepare him to be a candidate. But at the same time, he said it took a little getting used to “being in the public eye… Everything you say and do is subject to people’s opinions. It absolutely forces you to clarify your positions on issues. I’ve always had strong beliefs, but there is a difference when you have to articulate them when running for public office.”

Morrison said he is keenly aware of keeping promises to voters. “I can’t wait to get to work,” he added.

Morrison said he feels good that he did not engage in negative campaign tactics. Morrison said that in Maine it seems especially important to voters that candidates stick to the issues and not attack each other.

Although the economy is challenging, Morrison said, he remains positive and believes that adopting policies that are “meaningful” can help the economy.

“We have to get beyond the doom-and-gloom views that are fostered by the media,” he said. “I think we can turn things around.”