With primary elections set for June 10 and the general election Nov. 4, it is caucus season in Maine.
Republicans from Caribou to Kittery began caucusing around Jan. 25 and the sessions continue into March.
In York County, Biddeford and Saco Republicans will each caucus to elect delegates to the state convention and to the county committee Saturday.
York County’s “super” caucus, which takes place at Sanford High School starting at 9 a.m. Feb. 8, will see Republican committees from several towns get together to conduct their business.
Saco City Caucus begins at 9 a.m. at City Hall on Main Street.
Biddeford GOP City Committee meets at 2 p.m. at the Ross Center Dining Hall of the J. Richard Martin Community Center on Alfred Street.
Donna Flanagan has been involved with the Biddeford GOP City Committee of the past couple of years.
“They’re interesting,” she said of caucus events.
And, she pointed out, Biddeford has the opportunity to send 33 delegates to the Republican State Convention in Bangor, set for the latter part of April, so, she said, it’s important for people to get out and take part in the caucus.
“We want to be represented,” Flanagan said.
Spokesmen for Gov. Paul LePage and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will be on hand at the Biddeford caucus, and speakers include Rep. Wayne Parry, who was a member of the redistricting committee that carved out districts based on population figures, a process that is undertaken every 10 years. As well, Parry represents the nearby communities of Arundel, Dayton, part of Lyman and part of Kennebunk. Jim Booth, who is seeking election to the Maine Senate in newly created District 32, which includes Alfred, Biddeford, Dayton, Kennebunkport and Lyman is also scheduled to speak, Flanagan said.
Also caucusing Saturday are Cornish Republicans, who will meet at the town hall on Maple Street at 10:30 a.m.; and Limington Republicans, who will meet at 10 a.m. at the town hall on Sokokis Avenue.
Hollis Republicans will caucus with other York County communities in Sanford Feb. 8.
Eric Low, the vice chair and acting chairman of the Hollis Republican Committee, said he got involved in the caucus two years ago ”“ his first foray into local politics. The Republican town committee had been inactive for a while, but he and others decided to revive it, he said in a telephone interview earlier this week.
Those attending will elect the local committee officers, organize and support nominees, and select delegates to the county committee and to the convention.
The last time Low attended the caucus in Sanford, presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Ron Paul stopped by. This time will be different.
“I have no idea what to expect,” he said.
Other caucuses have also been set: Parsonsfield Republicans will caucus 1 p.m. Feb. 8 at the town hall on North Road, and Lyman Republicans will also caucus Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. at the Community Library in Goodwins Mills.
Old Orchard Beach held their caucus Jan. 25, while Ogunquit Republicans held theirs Jan. 31.
Democrats caucus on one day, March 2.
Flanagan, in Biddeford, said she’s taking part because she believes it is her civic duty as an American.
She said she’s hoping Biddeford Republicans will make a good showing on Saturday.
“I encourage people to turn out. We’ve got to stand for our country,” she said.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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