DUSON TAKING NEXT STEPS TO ENTER PRIMARY
Portland City Councilor Jill Duson has taken several steps towards entering the 2008 race for the US Congress representing District 1 in Washington. The Duson campaign has rented an office at 401 Cumberland Avenue, hired a campaign manager, and set up a campaign website.

Duson has been attending numerous parades, fairs, festivals, and other public gatherings. She has also begun raising seed money for the campaign.

Duson plans to leave her position as Director of the Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and officially file with the Federal Elections Commission in late October.

Duson is also expected to run for re-election to her at-large seat on the Portland City Council in November.

Party Chair Dudley Moving On
Maine Democratic Party Chair Ben Dudley has announced that he will be leaving the position after 16 months, and is taking a new job in the private sector.

A new chair will be elected soon, according to a Party announcement. In the meantime, Dudley and Vice-chair Marianne Stevens will continue to lead the Party.

Dudley was named Party Chair in 2006, after being term-limited from the Maine State Legislature. He had represented the Munjoy Hill/Downtown district in the legislature.

Dems Hiring Field Directors
Four new field directors will be hired by the State Democratic Party in the next month. The hirings will allow the current field staff to focus on fewer counties.

Anyone interested in one of the positions, should contact Monte Jarvis at monte@grassrootssolutions.com.

Grassroots Solutions is managing the field operations for the Maine Democratic Party for 2008.