AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s refusal Friday to seat Susan Deschambault will mean any controversial legislation will not be voted on in the Senate for as long as five business days, the deadline for the governor to swear in the District 32 senator elect.

Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond said on Friday that, because of the working relationship between the parties, Republican Senate President Mike Thibodeau told him there will be no roll call votes until Deschambault is seated. A spokesman for Thibodeau’s office confirmed that decision.

Although the majority of bills are passed by the Legislature without roll-call votes, more controversial bills are voted on with a roll call of members in both chambers.

District 32 includes Alfred, Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Kennebunkport and Lyman.

Deschambault, DBiddeford, won a special election in the district on Tuesday to fill the remainder of former Sen. David Dutremble’s term, which expires in December. Dutremble resigned Jan. 28, citing the need to spend more time with his family and seek treatment for alcoholism.

Deschambault was scheduled to be sworn in and seated Friday morning, but LePage refused to swear her in.

LePage Communications Director Peter Steele said the governor’s refusal was in response to Democrats rejecting Steve Webster, LePage’s nominee to the Unemployment Insurance Commission. The Labor Committee rejected Webster 7-6 in a party-line vote on Thursday.

Alfond said Friday afternoon that he had spoken with LePage’s staff and was told the governor will wait the full five business days allowed by state law to seat Deschambault.

“Once that time has passed, the governor’s staff is now saying he will swear her in,” said Alfond.

Official results of Tuesday’s special election certified by the Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday show Deschambault won the race with 57 percent of the vote, or by 486 votes. LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said LePage doesn’t want to “prematurely” cut off the unsuccessful candidate’s statutory right to request a recount.

But Steve Martin, Deschambault’s Republican opponent in the special election, said Friday that he has no plans to contest the results.

“She won fair and square,” said Martin, a Biddeford resident.

Deschambault said she doesn’t believe LePage’s refusal to swear her into office as scheduled was directed at her personally, even though she didn’t find out until she and her family had traveled to Augusta for the ceremony this morning.

Still, she said, his refusal is an affront to those who came out and voted for her, and to the institution of the Senate.

“It’s a complete insult to hold that hostage,” said Deschambault in a telephone interview from Augusta. “I don’t understand what he’s going to gain from this. I want to represent the people. People want someone to represent them. It just seems so weird.”

Deschambault pointed out that the end of the legislative session – April 20 – is fast approaching.

“They’re wrapping up, and there are things to be done,” she said.

The Maine Democratic Party immediately denounced the governor’s actions Friday morning.

“This is an act of political retribution by the governor and denies the people of District 32 their voice in the Senate,” said Maine Senate Democrats spokesman Mario Moretto.

“Once again, the governor decides to throw a temper tantrum and refused to do his job because he did not get his way,” said Phil Bartlett, chairman of the Maine Democratic Party. “If this is his idea of an April Fool’s joke, it is not funny.”

Moretto said that since LePage took office, the only time a legislator was not sworn in within two days of a special election was in 2011. At that time, a special election was held in conjunction with a state referendum, which delayed the certification of election results by the Secretary of State.

Steele on Friday linked the issue to the rejection of Webster.

“Democrats treated Steve Webster despicably, and it’s unfortunate good people get caught up in political games,” said Steele.

Alfond expressed his dismay over the situation.

“I am incredibly disappointed and frustrated that the governor has denied Senate District 32 voters a voice,” he said. “It’s disrespectful and shameful not to swear her in today, and you just don’t treat people like that.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.