BREAKING NEWS
The West End NEWS May 17, 2007
Strimling to Announce Candidacy
By EDKING

State Senator Ethan King Strimling will announce his candidacy for the District 1 seat in the US Congress at the Reiche Community Center on Brackett Street on Sunday, May 20th at 1PM. Strimling has continued to say publicly that he was “considering” joining the race, while his supporters continued to build his campaign behind the scenes since last fall.

Strimling’s campaign group met for the first time six months ago, on November 15, 2006, just eight days after Strimling won re-election to his third term in the Maine State Senate. About forty people attended that event, which was held at The Works restaurant in the Old Port.

On May 8th, Strimling said in a prepared statement that he has not made a final decision on whether he will run. He is known to have held a number of ‘house parties’ over the last six months. According to the Portland Forecaster, a meet-and-greet for Strimling was held at a home in Falmouth in April, where the invitation said donations should be made payable to “Strimling Congressional Exploratory Committee.” Another meet-and-greet fundraiser was held by a Portland supporter of Strimling on May 11th.

Strimling joins a crowded field who will vie for the Democratic nomination for the seat in a Democratic primary to be held one year from now. Announced Democratic candidates so far include former State Senators Michael Brennan, Chellie Pingree and Mark Lawrence, and Portland attorney Adam Cote. Current District 1 Congressman announced last week that he will run for the US Senate in 2008 against Republican Senator Susan Collins.