Matthew Foster
ELLSWORTH — Downeast voters issued a mandate for change in the District Attorney’s Office for Hancock and Washington counties Tuesday.
With a majority of precincts reporting, Republican Matt Foster took the office, beating out his Democratic opponent, Assistant District Attorney Bill Entwisle.
As of press time, Foster had garnered 13,102 votes in Hancock County to Entwisle’s 11,793.
In Washington County with 38 of 49 precincts reporting, Foster had 5,877 votes to Entwisle’s 3,443.
“I’m really excited and just so pleased,” Foster said. “It was a long, difficult battle, but we’re just so happy that things worked out the way they did.”
“Personally I really like Bill very much,” said Foster of Entwisle. “He put up a great fight and a good campaign and I wish him the best. I’m hoping to talk to him soon.”
Foster will be the new district attorney effective Jan. 1, 2015.
He will begin the work to close his private law practice, including assigning new counsel to his clients.
Foster said one of the priorities for his new office, once he takes over, is “regaining good communication with the police departments.”
Another priority, he said, is “getting the office more organized so we can get cases to the court system more quickly and efficiently.”.
“I’m just really excited to get to work and make the positive changes I’ve been talking about all along,” Foster said.
In other contested county races, attorney William Blaisdell IV appears to be Hancock County’s next probate judge. With over 90 percent of precincts reporting, Blaisdell had a solid lead over attorney Valerie Chiasson with 13,706 votes to her 11,007.
Blaisdell replaces former Probate Judge Jim Patterson, who chose not to seek re-election.
Again, with over 90 percent reporting, incumbent Republican County Commissioner Percy “Joe” Brown appears to be keeping his District 2 seat with 4,184 votes.
Democratic challenger Mike Sealander took 3,538 votes.
Sheriff-elect Republican Scott Kane ran uncontested on the ballot because he had no Democratic challenger.
Detective Sgt. Alan Brown had lost to Kane in the Republican primary for sheriff last June.
Current Sheriff Bill Clark, who has served 34 years, chose not to seek re-election.
County Treasurer Janice Eldridge ran uncontested for her post. She took 18,638 of the votes.
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