Republican incumbent Dennis Keschl won by 602 votes in unofficial returns to keep his seat in House District 83 thanks largely to strong support in Belgrade where he lives and where he was town manager for about five years.
Keschl, 65, garnered 2,964 total votes; his Democratic challenger Pamela Boivin of Manchester received 2,362 in unofficial totals.
The district includes Belgrade, Fayette, Manchester, Mount Vernon and Vienna.
“I actually improved my showing in Mount Vernon, Vienna, Fayette and Belgrade,” Keschl said. “Both times I had huge support from Belgrade, the largest town in the district.”
Keschl said he had a call from Boivin Wednesday. “We agreed to understand that we differ in our politics,” he said.
He said Boivin, 44, an attorney, ran a good campaign.
“Neither one of us participated in any negative campaigning,” Keschl said. “I don’t think negative campaigns belong on either side. They ruin people. Some very good legislators lost their seats because of some very negative ads.”
Keschl said he intends to continue working with Democrats “for Maine people” as he did when he was on the Appropriations Committee in the most recent session.
“I hope other side is as cooperative with us as we were with them,” Keschl said.
Here are unofficial totals in the district towns:
Belgrade: Keschl 1,247; Boivin, 595
Fayette: Keschl 326; Boivin 373
Manchester: 749; Boivin, 786
Mount Vernon: 492; Boivin, 422
Vienna: Keschl 150; Boivin 186.
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