McLaughlin wins Cape seat in State House

Democrat Janet L. McLaughlin was elected to the State House from District 25, defeating Republican opponent John McGinty by nearly 1,000 votes.

McLaughlin received 3,114 votes compared to 2,126 for McGinty. District 25 includes most of Cape Elizabeth. McLaughlin, a former Cape Town Councilor, succeeds Republican Jean Ginn Marvin, who did  not run for re-election.

In a surprise vote, longtime Cape resident Jane Amero failed to carry her home town in her race for U.S. Congress from District 1. Incumbent Tom Allen edged out Amero 3,044 votes to 2,837 in Cape Elizabeth.

Neither did Cape Elizabeth support George W. Bush for president, favoring Democrat Al Gore 2,962 to 2,709.

In some of the most visible initiative questions on the ballot, Cape Elizabeth supported physician-assisted suicide, 3,120 votes to 2,853; but said no to permits for clear-cutting land, 3,569 votes to 2,294. Cape voters also said "yes" to the anti-discrimination law against homosexuals 3,801 votes to 2,072.

Voter turnout was 76.5 percent, with 6,048 Cape residents casting ballots. Town Clerk Debra Lane said she was prepared for the high turnout, hiring extra help to facilitate balloting and setting up all booths available to the town. Two election workers began their duties last week, setting up voter registration and absentee voting in the Town Hall chamber. Parking was made easier at the polls due to the cooperation of the School Department, which closed the nearby health facility for the day, and did not start classes at the high school until 9 a.m. A police officer was also on duty to direct traffic.

"It was a combined effort of everyone," Lane said.

Of the more than 6,000 votes, 890 were cast as absentee under the new "no reason" absentee voting law. Any voter who properly requested a ballot was permitted to vote absentee.  Lane said there are usually about 500 absentee ballots.

Here is how Cape Elizabeth residents voted:

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 



Libertarian        BROWN, HARRY, Franklin, TN   19 votes
                   and
                   OLIVIER, ART, Bellflower, CA

Reform             BUCHANAN, PAT, McLean, VA    13 votes
                   and
                   FOSTER, EZOLA, Los Angeles, CA

Republican         BUSH, GEORGE W., Austin, TX   2,709 votes
                   and
                   CHENEY, DICK, Wilson, WY      

Democrat           GORE, AL, Carthage, TN       2,962 votes
                   and
                   LIEBERMAN, JOE, New Haven, CT

Green Independent  NADER, RALPH, Washington, DC      310 votes
                   and
                   LADUKE, WINONA, Ponsford, MN

Constitution Party PHILLIPS, HOWARD, Vienna, VA       1 vote
                   and
                   FRAZIER, J. CURTIS, Springfield, MO

UNITED STATES SENATOR


Democrat           LAWRENCE, MARK W.    1,696 votes
                   South Berwick

Republican         SNOWE, OLYMPIA J.    4,192 votes
                   Falmouth


REPRESENTATIVE TO CONGRESS District 1
Vote for ONE

Democrat           ALLEN, THOMAS H.     3,044 votes
                   Portland

Republican         AMERO, JANE A.       2,837 votes
                   Cape Elizabeth

Libertarian        STAPLES, J. FREDERIC   94 votes
                   Biddeford


STATE SENATOR
District 30


Democrat           BROMLEY, LYNN     2,739 votes
                   South Portland

Republican         WATSON, RUTH McCLEERY    3,062 votes
                   Cape Elizabeth


REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LEGISLATURE
District 25


Democrat           McLAUGHLIN, JANET L.  3,114 votes
                   Cape Elizabeth

Republican         McGINTY, JOHN W.      2,126 votes
                   Cape Elizabeth

REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LEGISLATURE
District 24
(Cape Elizabeth and South Portland)

Democrat           BLISS, LAWRENCE     263 votes
                   South Portland

Republican         LARSEN, NANCY L.    283 votes
                   South Portland

REGISTER OF PROBATE
Vote for ONE

Democrat           ADAMS, HERBERT C.    3,469 votes
                   Portland

Republican         SVETLICHNY, OLEG      1,927 votes
                   Frye Island


COUNTY COMMISSIONER
District 2


Democrat           FEENEY, RICHARD J.   2,606 votes
                   South Portland

Republican         RIDGE, JOHN F.       3,007 votes
                   Cape Elizabeth

Referendum Election Sample Ballot

QUESTION 1: CITIZEN INITIATVIVE

Should a terminally ill adult who is of sound mind be allowed to ask for and receive a doctor's help to die? Yes 3,120 No 2,853

QUESTION 2: CITIZEN INITIATVIVE

Do you favor requiring landowners to obtain a permit for all clear-cuts and defining cutting levels for lands subject to the Tree Growth Tax Law? Yes 2,294 No 3,569

QUESTION 3: CITIZEN INITIATVIVE

Do you want to allow video lottery machines at certain horse racing tracks if 40% of the profits are used for property tax relief? Yes 1,691 No 4,260

QUESTION 4: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to allow the Legislature to provide for the assessment of land used for commercial fishing activities based on the current use of that property? Yes 3,411 No 2,144

QUESTION 5: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to end discrimination against persons under guardianship for mental illness for the purpose of voting?
Yes 2,702 No 3,116

QUESTION 6: REFERENDUM

Do you favor ratifying the action of the 119th Legislature whereby it passed an act extending to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation the same basic rights to protection against discrimination now guaranteed to citizens on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in the areas of employment, housing, public accomodation and credit and where the act expressly states that nothing in the act confers legislative approval of, or special rights to, any person or group of persons? Yes 3,801 No 2,072

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