A former state legislator, a Realtor and the owner of a writing consulting business are vying in the June primary to be the Democratic candidate for the House District 59 seat, which serves Gardiner and Randolph.

Harvey DeVane, 76, and Phillip Barter, 64, both from Gardiner, and Gay Grant, 52, of South Gardiner, are the three candidates. The winner of the three-way race will face Republican candidate Daniel Bates, of Gardiner, in the November general election.

Now, the seat is held by state Rep. Stephen P. Hanley, D-Gardiner, who is not running for the seat because of term limits.

Barter, an Army veteran and Realtor for 36 years, said he has been involved in many municipal groups such as the Housing Committee, the Waterfront Task Force, and the Comprehensive Planning Review Committee. Now, he serves on the city’s Conservation Committee.

Barter is also past president of the Gardiner Rotary Club and the Southern Kennebec Valley Board of Realtors, and has taught in the Gardiner school system and is a University of Maine at Farmington graduate.

People are unhappy with the direction of the administration of Gov. Paul LePage and want common sense solutions, he said.

“It seems that the present governor and Republican Legislature don’t understand their roles,” Barter said. “We have a governor who prefers to dictate rather than govern and a Legislature that prefers to be governed rather than legislate. From what I’m hearing on the street, I’m not alone in this perception.”

Barter said he has a unique insight into the issues concerning the voters of Gardiner and Randolph from all his years as a teacher, small-business owner and member of city committees and civic organizations.

State government issues “are complicated, yet quite simple — too much spending and not enough revenue,” he said. “However, how much spending can you cut without hurting many people and causing more budget problems down the road?”

DeVane served in the Maine House from 1975 to 1977, and has worked as commissioner of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, and director of the Maine State Energy Office. He also served on the Maine Board of Environmental Protection, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and has been active in the Democratic Party. He also was hired as a manager in the town of Carmel and the city of Ellsworth.

He is also a graduate of the University of Maine and served in the Korean War.

DeVane said he would make the best candidate because he has more experience in government than the others.

“My principal interest is balance — having balanced outlooks and balanced programs and not abandoning the poor,” DeVane said. “That’s balance and that’s what’s needed.”

DeVane said he dislikes extremes and the my-way-or-the highway philosophy. He said the state government used to run on middle-of-the-road politics. He said the state needs more careful, thoughtful, reasonable people serving in the Legislature.

“I detest the extremes, whether it’s the government or one of the political parties,” he said.

Grant, the owner of writing consulting business The Write Way, said she would bring fresh ideas and energy to the position.

Grant said she has a long record of service in her community. The University of Southern Maine graduate said she raised more than $1 million for schools and community groups in this area through her grant writing and fundraising.

“I work hard, and I’m a good problem solver,” she said. “I know how to be persuasive without being abrasive. I think my record and skills are just what is needed in Augusta.”

She said voters wonder why community colleges have waiting lists of students who want to learn crucial job skills while Maine employers are forced to seek outside the state to fill critical positions. Grant said health insurance is another top concern among the people in her district, as is the issue of political civility at the State House.

Grant, who served on the School Administrative District 11 school board, said the economy is the single biggest issue facing Maine. People need jobs that pay a livable wage, she said, and many of the voters she’s spoken with agree.

“Closely tied to this is a deep concern about education, for our children and young people, and for adults who must upgrade their skills for this competitive global economy,” Grant said.

Mechele Cooper — 621-5663

mcooper@centralmaine.com

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