Gerrish coasts to easy win in House 20
Harrison Thorp
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
Gerrish: 1227 Harris-Howard: 800 Thorp: 63 Treasurer: Wood: 1576
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
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