Seven Gubernatorial Candidates To Speak At Maine Democratic Convention

LEWISTON, Maine (NEWS CENTER Maine) — The Maine Democratic Party Convention entered day two at The Androscoggin Bank Colisée on Saturday. More than 1,350 people have pre-registered for the convention, a record-breaking number on a non-presidential election year, according the MDP press secretary.

There are seven gubernatorial candidates vying for the party’s nomination. Each candidate is allowed a 10-minute address and the order was decided by drawing names out of a hat.

Betsy Sweet of Augusta will take the stage first. Sweet is a mental health counselor and owns a business that lobbies the Legislature on issue for the disabled, mentally ill, the elderly and for women. She is a longtime Democratic activist and organizer, and is the former director of the Maine Women’s Lobby.

The second candidate to speak will be Diane Russell of Portland. Russell has worked as a cashier and for non-profit organizations, but is best known as a legislator and political activist. She served four terms in the Maine House. She helped lead several successful citizen referendum campaigns, and was a leader of Bernie Sanders supporters at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Mark Eves of North Berwick will address his party third. Eves is a family counselor who currently manages a mental health agency. He served eight years in the Maine House of Representatives, including two terms as Speaker of the House.

The fourth speaker is scheduled to be Donna Dion of Biddeford. She served six years as mayor of Biddeford, and spent many years working in finance for several non-profit organizations.

The Attorney General of Maine, Janet Mills of Farmington, is number five in the order. Mills has held the position for the past five and a half years. She is a former prosecutor and District Attorney, and operated her own law practice. She served three terms in the Maine House of Representatives.

The sixth speaker will be Senator Mark Dion of Portland. Senator Dion is a lawyer, a former police officer and served as Cumberland County Sheriff. Dion has previously served in the Maine House and is currently serving in the Senate.

The last candidate to speak at the convention is Adam Cote of Sanford. Cote is a lawyer, a former member of the Sanford school board and other local organizations, and served for a number of years as an officer with the Maine Army National Guard.

Maine has not had a Democrat in Blaine House since Governor John Baldacci in 2011.