Sen. Carol Weston of Waldo County, with the assistance of Sen. Richard Rosen of Hancock County, will be leading Senate Republicans in the upcoming Legislature as they try to do the most in a chamber where they are in the minority by one vote.
Weston beat Sen. Richard Nass of York County for the minority leader’s post in an amicable meeting Tuesday afternoon at the State House. Rosen’s opposition for the assistant minority leader’s spot, Sen. Jonathan Courtney, also of York County, dropped his bid after Weston won, saying he knew how to count.
Their election was the first in a series of party caucuses being held this week and next to determine leadership in both the House and Senate. Weston and Rosen were a team supported by the more moderate wing of the caucus, while Nass and Courtney were dubbed as the conservatives.
“We are an important part of this Legislature,” Weston told her fellow Republican senators, and given the routing Republicans received in the House, will have to lead on tax relief and fiscal stability.
“We have to decide how we actually achieve those plans that were printed on our campaign material,” said Weston, who organized the Republican Senate campaign in the last election as the then-assistant minority leader.
Weston was criticized by the Nass camp for the way she handled the campaign, but others said she did all that was possible, given the Democratic wave that rolled over the country.
“We were one of only five states in the country that made a gain in the Senate,” said Sen. Christine Savage of Knox County, who nominated Weston. In the last session the split was 19-16, and now it’s 18-17.
“I don’t think there was a 19th seat we could have won, not with the (Democratic) tide,” said Sen. Peter Mills, who backed the Weston and Rosen ticket. “We’ve got to rebuild this party of ours.”
Rosen was praised even by his opponents as someone who puts the goals of his party ahead of his own agenda.
“Richard Rosen is an example of how I’d like to be remembered as a senator,” said Courtney as he bowed out of the assistant leader’s race. Courtney did warn, however, “there’s a real divide” in the Senate Republican caucus that needs to be addressed.
Nass said the party needs to focus on the issues. “Taxes are too high, government is too big and there are not enough good paying jobs for our children.”
House Democrats were scheduled to meet on Wednesday in the House chambers to decide on their leadership.
Rep. Glenn Cummings of Portland, majority leader in the last Legislature, was the presumed heir to the Speaker’s seat, but he is being challenged by Rep. Leila Percy of Phippsburg and Rep. Thom Watson of Bath. House Speaker John Richardson of Brunswick was termed out of office.
While the House Speaker has to be voted on by both parties when the new Legislature officially meets on Dec. 6, the Democratic nominee will rule since Democrats now hold up to a 29-seat majority. Recounts in at least 13 races are scheduled, but will not change the Democrat’s majority status.
Rep. Hannah Pingree of North Haven will be running for majority leader against Rep. John Tuttle of Sanford. Three candidates are running for assistant majority leader or whip – Rep. Nancy Smith of Monmouth, Rep. Sean Faircloth of Bangor and Rep. Herb Clark of Millinocket.
Senate Democrats will meet this Sunday to choose their leaders. Senate President Beth Edmonds of Freeport is expected to retain her position, although there is word of a challenge by Sen. John Martin of Aroostook County. There are no incumbents for majority leader and assistant majority leader.
Sen. Dennis Damon of Hancock County and Sen. Libby Mitchell of Kennebec County
are running against each other for the No. 2 spot, and Sen. Phil Bartlett of Cumberland County is running for assistant majority leader.
House Republicans will caucus next Monday to round out the leadership picks. Rep. Josh Tardy, the assistant minority leader in the last Legislature, will run for minority leader and Rep. Robert Crosthwaite of Ellsworth will run for assistant. Two other incumbent legislators had been mentioned before the election for the assistant’s spot, but the candidates were not re-elected.
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