News Briefs

Bryant seeks House seat

Mark Bryant, of Windham, has recently issued his formal announcement to seek the House District 110 seat. District 110 comprises a portion of Gray and part of the town of Windham.

Mark is a long time resident of Windham with a history of strong community involvement. Mark earned an Associates Degree in computer science and has over 19 years experience in business, industry and service to his community.

He spent the past 19-1/2 years at Sappi Fine Papers (S.D. Warren) in Westbrook as a paper maker. Mark recently lost his position at Sappi as a result of cut backs and reduction of personnel at the Westbrook facility.
Mark was appointed to the State Emergency Response Commission in 1989 and became instrumental in the development of statewide research and identification of health and safety hazards in Maine's workplaces.

Additionally, he served on the Maine Labor Group on Health, was a council member for the Wellness and Employer Assistance Program and is a past member of the Health Care Cost Containment Committee. Currently, Mark sits on Windham's Voter Registration Appeals Board.

Mark lives with his wife Diane (married for more than 25 years) and three sons (Noah, Joshua, Adam) at 166 Albion Road in Windham.

Bunker throws hat in ring
Gray--Steve Bunker of Gray has formally announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the Maine Legislature, District 109, an area encompassing most of Gray, plus parts of Pownal and North Yarmouth. The new district lines are the result of Maine's redistricting process.

Bunker returned to Maine six years ago, purchasing a home in Gray with wife and business partner Sharon Bondroff. Together they run China Sea Marine Trading Company, a nautical salvage and antiques business founded by Steve in 1979.

Last summer, Bunker, a history buff and member of the Gray Historical Society, served on the committee to rededicate Gray's Civil War Monument. He is a past Maine commander for the Sons of Union Veteran of the Civil War, and a member of the Civil War Roundtable.

A Vietnam veteran, Bunker attended East Tennessee State University, and has one son, Ian, 32.

For more information, contact: Sharon Bondroff, 657-2117.

Representative Lois Snowe-Mello Seeks State Senate Seat
Auburn - Representative Lois Snowe-Mello announced today that, after serving 4 consecutive 2-year terms in the Maine House of Representatives, she is seeking the District 15 State Senate seat.

District 15 includes the city of Auburn and the towns of Durham, New Gloucester and Poland.

During her tenure in the Maine House, Representative Snowe-Mello served on several policy committees including Health and Human Services, Criminal Justice, and Insurance and Financial Services. As a Representative, she has distinguished herself as an advocate for small business and has worked diligently to help Maine become a more attractive place to grow a business and to create high quality, good paying jobs. Due to her efforts, she has consistently earned high ratings from key organizations such as the Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI) and the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB).

Representative Snowe-Mello lives in Poland with her husband, Brian.


Maine Green Independent Party Breaks Caucus Records
Augusta, ME -- Maine Green Independent Party officials have confirmed that this year's statewide caucuses mark an all-time high turnout for participation.

Over 175 registered Green Independents participated in as many as 64 municipal caucuses held around the state and in each county, a 50% increase from the 41 caucuses held in 2000. The recent change in state law which removed the Presidential primary, leaving it to the parties to determine how their nomination will be decided, is attributed as a major factor contributing to the higher turnout.

Official results of the Green caucus votes show that Ralph Nader has won the popular Green vote with 52 votes, a 10-point lead over David Cobb's 42 votes. The Maine Green Independent Party is the first state Green Party to award Ralph Nader as the top vote-getter in a primary or caucuses this year, and it has 19 delegates it may send to the national convention to help determine the outcome of the presidential nomination by the Green Party of the United States. David Cobb currently has the largest commitment of delegates nationwide.

The final decision for the presidential nominee will be made at the State Convention, April 17-18 in Lewiston. There, delegates will be elected to represent MGIP at the National Convention in Milwaukee, June 24-27.
The official tally, with all municipalities (except LaGrange) having reported their votes to party leaders, is as follows:

Ralph Nader 52, David Cobb 42, Lorna Salzman 19, "Nobody" 14, Carol Miller 9, Denis Kucinich 8, Kent Mesplay 5, Peter Camejo 4, Paul Glover and John Kerry 2 each, and Cynthia McKinney, Ben Meiklejohn, Denis Howard and John Edwards each receiving one vote. At least 17 people abstained.

For more information:
Maine Green Independent Party
http://www.mainegreens.org
State Convention information
http://www.sullboat.com/mainegreens/2004_convention.htm
283 Water Street
PO Box 2046
Augusta, ME 04338
(207) 623-1919
1 Pleasant Street
PO Box 2046
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-1414
The Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1700 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 404
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 319-7191, (866) 41GREEN