BATH

After serving a brief time in the Maine Senate two years ago, Eloise Vitelli of Arrowsic will be running for Senate District 23 this year, which includes Sagadahoc County and the Lincoln County town of Dresden.

In 2013, Vitelli was elected into the Maine Senate in a special election, replacing former Sen. Seth Goodall of Richmond, a fellow Democrat. She was defeated in a three-way race against Linda Baker, R-Topsham, and Alice Knapp, G-Richmond, in 2014.

She will be vying for Baker’s seat this year.

Vitelli is currently director of program and policy at New Ventures Maine, formerly known as Women, Work and Community. In the 34 years she has been with the organization, she has helped to develop and support major program areas, especially in entrepreneurship development. One-on-one coaching, online options and classes and workshops on financial education, career planning, business and more are also offered through the program, according to the organization’s website.

In addition to her passion for economic development, Vitelli is also interested in affordable health care, state education and environmental issues like alternative renewable energy, something she is “anxious to work on,” she said.

Overall, Vitelli said she has been looking forward to an opportunity to return to the Senate and continue the work she had begun in years prior.

“What I learned being in the Legislature, and what’s driving me to go back, is that we can get together and solve more of Maine’s problems,” she said. “And it is continuing in spite of some rhetoric we hear and the concerns of the role of the governor. The legislators who come together are from all walks of life and all over the state, and we can sit down and hammer out all these solutions.

“We have some real advantages to having everyday people working to solve problems to make life better for people,” she added.

Vitelli had announced her run for Maine Senate last month on a snowy day surrounded by supporters in front of the Bath Freight Shed Alliance building on Commercial Street, which has significant meaning for Vitelli.

“The Bath Freight Shed has come together with a lot of different people and with lots of different entities, and examples like that are all over the place,” she said. “The rich sense of community is a lot of what makes this (area) a very special place.

“I’m thrilled and honored and very pleased with the support so far,” she added. “I look forward to meeting people in all 11 towns.”

Despite the challenges that may come her way, Vitelli said she’s learned to be prepared for the unexpected.

“Life is full of challenges and opportunities, and I don’t doubt that both will be forthcoming,” she said.

dkim@timesrecord.com