HOUSE DISTRICT 83
Jones defeats Morrell
By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Staff photo by Joe Phelan
enlarge
Staff photo by Joe Phelan
MEET AND GREET: House District 83 Democratic candidate Deane Jones, right, chats with Joe Kozak while campaigning door to door on Wednesday afternoon in Manchester.
Staff photo by Joe Phelan
enlarge
Staff photo by Joe Phelan
CHATTING: House District 83 Republican candidate Penny Morrell, right, chats with William White while campaigning door to door on Wednesday morning in Fayette.
AUGUSTA -- Democrat Deane Jones of Mount Vernon defeated Republican Penelope Morrell of Belgrade in the race for House District 83, according to unofficial results Tuesday.

With all five towns reporting, Jones won 1,469 to 1,180.

Jones will serve residents of Belgrade, Mount Vernon, Manchester, Fayette and Vienna. The special election was necessary because Rep. Abigail Holman, R-Fayette died in a skiing accident April 7. She was 45.

Jones, 68, is retired from J.S. McCarthy Printers in Augusta and has worked as a school bus driver. He's been a selectman in Mount Vernon for 18 years, but did not seek re-election to that post.

Jones, who said he's always nervous on Election Day, said he's been studying up on the bills he will be expected to vote on as a member of the House.

"I'm about as abreast as anyone could be coming in cold," he said.

Morrell, 59, works as an office manager at Maine Right to Life in Auburn. She's a former Belgrade town treasurer and has been active in the Maine Republican Party.

Morrell said that although she was disappointed with the result, she got a lot of support from many people who worked on her campaign.

"It's been a neat adventure for me," she said. "I just wish I could have pulled it out for them."

Both pledged to crack down on spending in Augusta, but differed on social issues.

Jones said he supports abortion rights, and Morrell said she is anti-abortion. Jones said he supports gay civil unions, and Morrell said she opposes them.

Both lost to Holman in elections last year, with Morrell being defeated in a primary and Jones losing the general election.

Neither has experience in state-level office.

Jones will be sworn in to office by Gov. John Baldacci when the election results are certified, which could be as soon as this morning.

Officially, the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn a week from today, although that can sometimes be a moving target.

The Legislature will reconvene in January. All legislative terms are up for reelection in November 2008.

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com

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MikeH of Litchfield, ME
Jun 14, 2007 10:41 AM
And thats why the republicans don't win ciarda.report abuse
ciarda of Surry, ME
Jun 14, 2007 8:12 AM
I am so tired of people thinking that just because you are religious that you are a right wing extremist. I would much rather have religious people in government than a liberal wack-o.report abuse
Regi of Westbrook, ME
Jun 13, 2007 9:24 PM

Tim - you are 100% right. I would love to vote for a fiscal conservative - don't care which party. However, I do NOT believe in the neocon approach to conservatism that has strayed so far from their roots.

Barry Goldwater had no problem with gays in the military and opposed governmental interference with a woman and her doctor deciding what she chooses to do with her body.

Today's conservatives have clearly lost there way. They scream about government interference, except for the issues THEY want interfered with.

Would somebody please, please find some real honest to goodness old fashioned conservatives? We need them.report abuse
Tim of Weld, ME
Jun 13, 2007 7:17 PM

Maybe the tax and spend Democrat got elected because the Republicans put up a social extremist from the religious right......again.

The Republicans don't seem to learn....put up candidates that appeal to the majority in the middle, social moderate, fiscally conservative. Stop catering to the religious zealots....you will NEVER win elections until you do.report abuse

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