Five Democratic candidates running for Maine’s 1st District Congressional seat brought sweet treats and differing opinions to Windham Sunday night.

At a forum at the Windham Friends Meeting House, candidates Michael Brennan, Adam Cote, Stephen Meister, Chellie Pingree, and Sen. Ethan Strimling, D-Portland, found common ground in criticizing the No Child Left Behind Act, the invasion of Iraq and the challenges to Maine’s economy.

York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence, was unable to attend because of the death of his father. His campaign manager, Marc Malon, stood in for him.

There were distinctions of opinions. For instance, Brennan is a proponent of free college education in Maine’s public university system. And though Cote would like the Iraq War to end, he was more cautious in discussing his thoughts on withdrawal than other candidates, citing his recent experience serving in Iraq.

“If we leave Iraq carelessly, it would be the next Darfur. I’m absolutely certain of it,” said Cote.

Along with the six Democratic candidates, two Republicans, Dean Scontras and Charlie Summers, are vying to replace U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, as he is running against Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, for her seat.

Cote, and Meister have no previous experience in public office. Lawrence and Brennan both served as state representatives. Pingree is a former state senator and Strimling has served in the Maine Senate since 2002.

Each candidate gave a two-minute introduction, touching on their experience and reasons for running, before a question and answer session featuring queries from approximately 50 people in the audience lasted an hour. The candidates had three minutes to answer each question.

When asked which presidential candidate they support, candidates responded with varying degrees of clarity.

While Strimling, who said he was “raised in a feminist household,” said he voted for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Pingree would only say that she supports whoever ends up being the Democratic nominee.

“I know I don’t want John McCain,” said Pingree.

Brennan and Cote support Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. Like Pingree, Meister and Lawrence have said they will support the Democratic nominee.

Candidates were each given a few minutes to speak about their campaigns at the conclusion of the forum. While Cote said his experience in Iraq will help him “bring to the table something that isn’t there right now,” he said the Democratic candidates share similar values.

“It’s a wonderful group of people here, and we all genuinely like each other,” said Cote.

On a lighter note, each candidate told about a dessert they brought for auction at the conclusion of the forum. The audience then bid on rice crispies treats, pies and cake in support of the campaigns.

Primary congressional elections are in June, and the general election will take place Nov. 4.

From left, Sen. Ethan Strimling, Stephen Meister, Marc Malon, Michael Brennan, Adam Cote, and Chellie Pingree share the stage and dessert recipes at a forum for Democratic 1st Congressional District candidates Sunday in Windham.