AUGUSTA — Democrats unanimously chose former Rep. Patsy Crockett as their nominee in the House District 57 race Wednesday, setting up a November contest against Republican Matthew Pouliot.

Crockett served in the House of Representatives from 2006-2010. She was a member of the Taxation and Financial Services committees and had 18 bills signed into law.

Before she entered the Legislature, she spent more than 10 years as a lobbyist.

“After seeing what’s taken place over the last two years with cuts to people I care about the most, I feel I do have the experience and proven record to make a difference,” she said.

Crockett was unopposed at the Wednesday caucus, which was necessary because Rep. Maeghan Maloney, D-Augusta, decided not to seek re-election because she is running for district attorney of Kennebec and Somerset counties.

Earlier this week, Pouliot, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Capital in Hallowell, was chosen by Republicans in the district as their nominee. Shortly after the June primary, Andrew Worcester dropped out of the race, creating the vacancy.

Pouliot is vice-chairman of the city 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. He is also on the board of the Rotary Club of Augusta and the Augusta Good Government Committee.

Crockett worked 27 years as office supervisor at John Hancock Financial Services before becoming a lobbyist. She is a member of the board of directors of Kennebec Behavioral Health and vice president of the board of directors of the Children’s Center, member of the Kennebec Historical Society, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Friends of the Flatiron Building. She is a former member of the Capital Riverfront Improvement District, assistant treasurer of the Maine Democratic Party and Fort Western Board of Trustees.

Two years ago, Crockett lost a Senate race to former Augusta Mayor Roger Katz.

She expects it will be a tough race this time around as well, noting that Pouliot already has yard signs and has had phone calls going out to district voters.

“It will be a grassroots campaign,” she said. “We need to be talking with people one-on-one.”

Susan Cover — 621-5643

scover@mainetoday.com

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