Gerrish coasts to easy win in House 20

Karen Gerrish

LEBANON - Lebanon's first representative to Augusta in as long as many can remember will be Republican Karen Gerrish, who bested Democrat Bettie Harris-Howard and write-in candidate Harrison Thorp Tuesday by a wide margin in all three towns that make up House 20.

Gerrish finished with roughly 60 percent of the vote, 2,069 to 1,336 for Harris-Howard. Thorp finished a distant third, with just 75.

Lebanon voters also resoundingly OK'd the selectmen-driven article that will allow the town to defund its lease agreement on Rescue 2, which will leave the town with just one ambulance. The measure passed 1,360-730.

Gerrish rode a Republican wave of protest against Democrats nationwide as GOP candidates won more than enough states to take over a majority role in the U.S. Senate.

Neither Gerrish nor Harris-Howard were immediately available for comment.

Thorp said he was disappointed by the low numbers, but not surprised.

"Being a write-in candidate is almost an impossible task, and I knew it would be a tough road," he said. "But I didn't run thinking I would coast to any win. I ran because I believed and still do believe the other two candidates are too extreme in their political beliefs. We'll see if Ms. Gerrish can prove me wrong. I actually hope she can."

Other Lebanon votes went as follows:

US Senator

Bellows: 458

Collins: 1645

Lyons: 1

Governor

Cutler: 205

LePage: 1347

Michaud: 599

District 1

Misiuk: 794

Murphy: 470

Pingree: 819

State Senator Dist. 34

Burns: 629

Collins: 993

Connor: 425

1. District 20

Gerrish: 1227

Harris-Howard: 800

Thorp: 63

Treasurer:

Wood: 1576

1. Register of Deeds

Anderson: 1605

Sheriff

Bill King: 1580

DA

Kathryn Slattery: 1542

Commissioner:

Sallie Chandler: 1623

Bear Hunting:

Yes- 857 No- 1274

Ambulance Referendum:

Yes- 1360 No- 730