AUGUSTA — Local Realtor and Augusta Planning Board member Matthew Pouliot is the Republican choice to run for state House of Representatives District 57.

Pouliot was selected at a caucus Monday night by about 50 registered Republicans from the district, which is made up of part of Augusta.

“I am honored to have been selected to run for the District 57 House seat,” Pouliot said Tuesday. “It’s time for new leadership in Augusta, leadership that is engaged and energized, leadership that believes in non-partisan solutions to the major problems facing Maine and our nation. I look forward to having the opportunity to demonstrate that leadership.”

The caucus was necessary to pick a candidate to replace Andrew D. Worcester, who won the Republican primary but dropped out of the race shortly after the primary.

Pouliot will face whoever local Democrats choose in their caucus, which is schedule tonight at 6:30 at Augusta City Center.

The Democrats need to pick a new candidate to replace incumbent Rep. Maeghan Maloney, who dropped out of the District 57 race after the primary to run for district attorney.

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Former lawmaker Patsy Crockett, who held the seat before Maloney, said she will seek the nomination, and Monica Castellanos, who recently worked with Matt Dunlap in his failed bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, also has expressed interest in running.

Pouliot was the only Republican to seek the seat at their caucus Monday. Business owner and school board member Larry Ringrose previously expressed interest in the spot, but stepped out of the race and put his support behind Pouliot.

Ringrose seconded the motion, made by state Sen. Roger Katz, to nominate Pouliot, according to Mark J. Ellis, a member of the Augusta City Republican Committee and a former chairman of the Maine Republican Party.

Ellis said he “absolutely” feels Pouliot will be a strong candidate and good state representative.

Pouliot is vice-chairman of the city’s planning board, a member of the Kennebec Valley Area Board for Junior Achievement of Maine, and is on the Augusta Downtown Alliance Board of Directors, the board of the Rotary Club of Augusta and the Augusta Good Government Committee.

Pouliot is a real estate agent with RE/MAX Capital in Hallowell and owner of Alliance Properties, a real estate management and investment company.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com


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