SANFORD – Incumbent Democrat Anne-Marie Mastraccio successfully fended off a challenge by Republican Pamela Buck in the race to represent House District 18, part of Sanford.

Mastraccio beat Buck 1,574 votes to 1,131, taking 58.2 percent of the vote, in unofficial totals.

Mastraccio, a retired public health dental hygienist and office manager for her husband’s optometric practice, served nine years on the Sanford School Committee and 12 years on the Town Council. She is House chair of the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee and a member of the Legislature’s Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee.

This will be her fourth term in office.

“I believe the depth of my experience in municipal and school governance has made me a very effective advocate for Sanford at the state level,” said Mastraccio when asked why she felt she is the best person for the job. “I understand the local issues and concerns of my constituents and no one will work harder to improve life in Sanford.”

Among other issues, she said the state needs to articulate a multi-faceted long-range strategy for economic development in Maine.

“It is no surprise that we have a labor shortage; it was predicted years ago, just based on our aging demographic and the increasing number of baby boomers who would be retiring,” said Mastraccio. “We have high paying jobs available right now that are going unfilled because of the lack of a skilled workforce. You can’t attract jobs without a trained and ready workforce. Key components of any plan might include but not be limited to;  job training for displaced and underemployed workers, state policies that attract and support legal immigrants to our state, universal early childhood education, enhanced career and technical educational offerings, targeted student debt relief and a focus on growing the small businesses already present and committed to staying in Maine.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.