EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a series of profiles of the candidates for Senate District 19. The Republican caucus will take place tonight in Bath; the special election will take place on Aug. 27.

PHIPPSBURG

Sensing that people are frustrated with the partisanship in Augusta, moderate Paula Benoit of Phippsburg says she’s ready to reclaim Senate District 19 for Republicans.

Benoit is the presumptive choice of Republicans to win the nomination during tonight’s caucus at Smith-Tobey American Legion Hall in Bath.

She will face Democrat Elois Vitelli, 54, of Arrowsic and Maine Green Independent Party nominee Daniel Stomgren, 40, of Topsham in the Aug. 27 general election to fill the seat left vacant by Richmond Democrat Seth Goodall.

Benoit held the Senate District 19 seat from 2006 to 2008 before Goodall edged her by less than a percentage point.

An Olympia Snowe-type Republican with moderate social viewpoints, Benoit looks forward to the same relationship she had before with constituents and fellow senators.

“I was known for my ability to work with the parties,” Benoit, 58, said Monday. “They really appreciated that — that I would go across the aisle. They so appreciated that.”

Benoit prided herself in her constituent work.

“Whether they voted for me or not,” she said, “they called me, and I answered them. And I never took them lightly. I am a public servant.”

Benoit, who was adopted, founded AdopteeCARE — Council for Adoption Reform Education — which educates legislators and the public on the importance of adoptees having access to their original birth certificates. www.adopteecare.com raises funds to support the work of education for access.

In 2006 and 2007, she led the way in passing adoptionrights legislation.

“Thousands of adoptees know who they are because of that legislation,” she said. “We got national press on that.”

She has spent more than half her life working for nonprofits.

Benoit twice was named Volunteer of the Year at the Bath Area YMCA, is a Big Sister, and volunteered at the Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath.

Benoit said she got many calls from constituents to run for the Senate 19 position when Goodall announced he was leaving.

“People said I should do it,” she said. “We need a moderate thinker — an independent voice. I am not a follower. I’ve always been more of a leader. I think things through thoroughly.”

A small-business owner, Benoit worries about the tax burden on people in the work force and retirees.

“We should be doing everything we can so that people can keep their jobs and live in their communities.” she said. “People with jobs volunteer, they donate and they coach on teams. And we need a better tax structure for retirees.”

Property owners are getting hurt by the repeal of the circuit-breaker law, which gave them a tax break on their homes.

“It’s too bad when people have saved money for years and now they’re getting nailed for taxes,” Benoit said.

Benoit opposes too much power in state government.

“I’d rather work with my local town administrator, instead of the state sending me papers telling me I have to do this or do that,” she said.