BY SUSAN M. COVER

Staff Writer

The two men vying to fill the Senate District 20 seat both offer voters a dose of legislative experience.

That experience -- both in the Statehouse and on the campaign trail -- likely means a hot race in a district that could decide who controls the state Senate for the next two years.

Rep. Peter Rines, D-Wiscasset, and former Rep. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, are both working hard to win the race to represent Windsor, Washington, Whitefield, Jefferson, Friendship and several other Lincoln County towns.

After eight years in the House and facing term limits, Rines decided to run for the Senate. The seat is open this year because Sen. Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro, did not run for re-election.

"I have enjoyed myself immensely over the last eight years," said Rines, 46. "It seems like a sensible move to make."

Rines, who works for Southern Maine Community College in the fire science program, said he's worked on legislation to get MTBE removed from gasoline, on a law regarding fire-safe cigarettes in Maine, and to require the consolidation of public-safety answering points.

Trahan served eight years in the House through 2006 but was forced from office because of term limits.

He said he's anxious to get back to the Statehouse.

"I'm probably an odd duck," Trahan said. "I actually love the Legislature. I love serving."

A self-employed logger, Trahan, 45, says he has many ideas for what he'd like to do if elected.

He's pushing for a community college in Lincoln County that would focus on training workers for jobs in the health care field. He also wants state testing of estuaries to be timely, which would allow clam diggers to work more days.

"It's keeping people home that could be working," he said of the current system.

Another goal is to find a way to address increased use of emergency rooms on weekends.

Trahan is hoping to keep the Senate District 20 seat in Republican hands, while Democrats are looking to expand their 18-17 majority.

The Senate is the Republicans' best chance to grab power in state government this election cycle, considering Democratic Gov. John Baldacci is in office another two years, and Democrats hold a 90-59 advantage in the Maine House of Representatives.

On policy issues, Rines said he would lower the state sales tax rate but apply it to more services.

"I believe there are a lot of services that aren't being taxed that should be and other things that cost too much money that are," he said.

Rines voted in favor of new taxes on beverages to support Dirigo Health. He said it was a difficult decision.

"Everybody wants health care," he said. "Figuring out how to pay for it is the $10 million question."

Trahan, who voted to support the creation of Dirigo Health in 2003, said he supports the repeal of new taxes on beverages to pay for the program. He said the program has not covered enough people to lower costs for everyone.

"For me, if you want to change the cost of health care, you have to address utilization," he said.

Trahan said he's signed a "no tax pledge," which means he will not support any bills in the next two years that raise broad-based taxes, such as the income or sales tax.

The pledge is from Americans for Tax Reform, a group created in 1985 at the request of President Ronald Reagan.

Trahan said he supports efforts to lower the income tax and said the governor should fund the initiative in the budget to give it a better chance of passage.

"Over eight years, my reputation was you could trust me, whether you agreed with me or not," Trahan said. "If I told you I was going to do something, I would do it."

Rines said his eight years of service on the Utilities and Energy Committee make him a good choice, because he can offer expertise in the areas of electric costs and in expanding Internet access to rural areas.

He said high electric costs often hurt businesses in the state.

"If we don't get a handle on it, what business we do have in the state will be gone," he said.

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@centralmaine.com