Republicans and Democrats will meet this week to choose their nominees for the House District 83 seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Deane Jones, D-Mount Vernon.

Both parties have lost capable representatives from this seat in the last five months.

Rep. Abigail Holman, R-Fayette — a hard-charging lawyer whose intelligence and political savvy were treasured by her party — died in April in a skiing accident.

Many believed the 45-year-old had a chance of being governor someday.

Then, five months later, Jones — an energetic public servant who beamed with pride the day he was sworn-in — died of lung cancer.

This will be the third time in less than two years that people in the district that includes Belgrade, Fayette, Manchester, Mount Vernon and Vienna will have to choose someone to represent them in the Maine House.

Democrats will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Manchester Elementary School. Republicans will meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Augusta city hall.

The candidates chosen this week, and possibly others who file to run, will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.