Before the Maine GOP presidential straw poll is a distant memory, I took a look at the current statewide totals and compared them to 12 Kennebec County towns.

With 75 percent of towns reporting, the statewide results show Mitt Romney with 52 percent, John McCain with 21 percent, Ron Paul with 18 percent and Mike Huckabee with 6 percent.

But locally, the results tell a slightly different story.

Romney still won, with 45 percent, but Paul came in second with 32 percent, McCain followed with 17 percent and Huckabee still drew 6 percent.

For more results, go to mainegop.com.

Augusta Republicans elect new leadership

In addition to expressing their presidential preference, Republicans elected new leaders on Saturday.

Chuck Mahaleris was chosen to serve as city GOP chairman, David Madore is vice-chairman and Linda Hadley Rood is secretary.

Sharon Benoit to run for District 21 seat

Monmouth resident Sharon Benoit, a former state legislator, has announced she will seek the Democratic nomination for the state Senate District 21 seat.

That sets up a primary in that district, where former Gardiner Mayor Brian Rines has already said he plans to run again.

Benoit, who previously served eight years in the House, is now retired and said this is a good time for her to get involved again.

The district is currently represented by Sen. Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner, who beat Rines in a squeaker in 2006.

Strimling heads to Red Barn

State Sen. Ethan Strimling, a Democrat who’s running for the 1st Congressional District seat, will make the rounds in Kennebec County on Saturday.

Strimling will start the day with breakfast at A1 Diner in Gardiner at 7:45 a.m., move on to the West Gardiner Transfer Station at 9:45 a.m. and then head to the Red Barn Restaurant on Riverside Drive by lunchtime, according to his campaign.

While at the Red Barn, he’s supposed to take orders from customers before “joining them in the dining room.”