A Maine Republican lawmaker who a week before election day turned himself in to police over an alleged aggravated assault incident has won reelection by a single vote after a Thursday recount.
[RELATED: Maine Republican Representative Up for Re-Election Arrested on Aggravated Assault Charges…]
State Rep. Lucas Lanigan (R-Sanford) received 2,478 votes, while his Democratic challenger, Patricia Kidder, received 2,477, according to the recount conducted by the Maine Secretary of State’s Office.
Officials said 434 ballots were deemed blank following the recount.
The recount came after the race for House District 141, which represents Newfield, Shapleigh, and parts of Sanford and Springvale, was a tie after election day, with Lanigan and Kidder receiving 2,476 votes, with 426 blank ballots.
Lanigan turned himself in to police on Oct. 28 on a domestic violence aggravated assault charge. According to a police affidavit, Lanigan was accused of choking his wife during a domestic dispute.
However, during his first court appearance that Wednesday, both Lanigan’s lawyer and his wife argued that the incident was a misunderstanding.
According to the York County Sheriff’s Office, Lanigan posted $3,000 bail the day of his court appearance, Oct. 30, and was released. He is expected to make his next court appearance in March.
The Democratic leaders of the Maine House of Representatives have called for Lanigan’s immediate resignation.
Following Thursday’s recount, Democrats hold a narrow 76-73 majority in the Maine House of Representatives.
Picture the class room in Farris Buellers day off. “bellows,,,, bellows?”
he is innocent until prove guilty, so he should take the seat. until he is convicted the DemocRATS-Communists can go sit down and just shut up.
His wife was trying to kill herself, he was trying to stop her. I’ll take him over that toothless liberal hag any day
There IS hope for our union .
”Every Vote Matters “ is more than just a slogan .
That’s one less democrat that we have to listen to .
GOOD NEWS !
Is Kidder really Richard / Rachel Levine’s brother ?
Too sad.
We need fewer democrats . This is good .
Sheena is not happy . Q
Trumped up charges. No pun intended.