AUGUSTA
The special election to fill a vacancy in state Senate District 19 will be Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Secretary of State Matt Dunlap made the announcement Monday.
Candidates seeking the seat include Republican Paula Benoit of Phippsburg and Democrats Will Neilson of Arrowsic, a Bath restaurateur and formerly a Republican; Eloise Vitelli, of Arrowsic; and Bath City Councilor David Sinclair.
The vacancy was created when Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall, D-Richmond, resigned at the end of the legislative session to become regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Goodall has endorsed Vitelli.
Sagadahoc and Lincoln County Democratic, Green Independent and Republican committees have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, to file a certificate of nomination with the Secretary of State to place the name of a candidate on the special election ballot.
Greens in District 19 will choose a candidate for the seat during a caucus in the Topsham Municipal Building, 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, according to party spokesman John Rensenbrink.
Sagadahoc Democrats will meet to choose their candidate July 22.
For unenrolled candidates seeking a place on the ballot, petitions containing the signatures of at least 200 qualified electors must be filed with the Secretary of State by 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 30.
Any registered voter who resides within the district may sign an unenrolled candidate’s petition regardless of political party designation.
Any candidate who wishes to run as a write-in candidate must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the Secretary of State by 5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6. The form is available through the Division of Elections at 624-7650.
Voters in the district may request an absentee ballot from the municipal clerk in his or her municipality. Absentee ballots will be made available once the candidates are reported to the Secretary of State.
Senate District 19 is comprised of the municipalities of Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Dresden, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Woolwich and the unorganized township of Perkins.
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