Cumberland County candidates rely upon experience

By Ed Pierce

Four Cumberland County candidates will be on the ballot in Windham and Raymond next month but only one is a contested race.

Cumberland County candidates on the ballot in Windham and
Raymond are, from left, incumbent Probate Court Judge Paul
Aranson, incumbent Sheriff Kevin Joyce, incumbent District
Attorney Jackie Sartoris, and District Attorney challenger
Stephanie Anderson.  COURTESY PHOTOS

During the Maine Primary on June 9, incumbent Democrat Jacqueline “Jackie” Sartoris defeated challenger Valerie Adams and advanced to the general election on Nov. 3 seeking re-election as Maine’s 2nd Prosecutorial District Attorney.

Sartoris is a veteran candidate, having served four terms on the Brunswick Town council. She was elected as District Attorney in Cumberland County in 2022.

This year, Sartoris will face a familiar name in the election for District Attorney in Stephanie Anderson, an unenrolled independent candidate from Cape Elizabeth. Anderson previously served as Maine’s 2nd Prosecutorial District Attorney from 1991 to 2018.

While serving as Maine’s 2nd Prosecutorial District Attorney, Anderson created Maine's first Juvenile Unit, focusing on rehabilitation and preventing future offenses. She also founded Maine's first Domestic Violence Unit, providing dedicated resources to protect vulnerable victims, took a strong stance against human trafficking exploitation and established Maine's first Drug Court, prioritizing treatment over incarceration for non-violent offenders.

During her time in office as Maine’s 2nd Prosecutorial District Attorney, Sartoris created a Sex Crimes Prosecution Team to prioritize frequently under-prosecuted cases, take them to trial, and give victims the justice they deserve. She also secured a $2.5 million federal grant to collect, test, and investigate hundreds of stored rape kits, some almost four decades old to investigate and prosecute where possible. Under Sartoris, the Victim & Witness Advocate (VWA) program has been expanded to give victims information and confidence to navigate the judicial process, and she also created the “Lois Galgay Reckitt Room” where victims and witnesses can wait to appear in court without encountering perpetrators at the courthouse.

Two other Cumberland County candidates who appear on the ballot are unopposed and will be re-elected on Nov. 3.

Sheriff Kevin Joyce, a Democrat, does not have a challenger this year. He was first elected as Cumberland County Sheriff in November 2010. He has worked for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office for more than 37 years and was the recipient of the Presidential Valor Award, presented by the Maine Sheriff’s Association in 1995, and has received many commendations and leadership awards during his career.

Paul Aranson of Scarborough is unopposed for the position of Cumberland County Probate Court Judge. Aranson, a Democrat, was first elected as Cumberland County Probate Court Judge in 2018. He previously served two terms as Maine’s 2nd Prosecutorial District Attorney in Cumberland County from 1982 to 1986. In his private law practice, Aranson was a successful attorney and specialized in criminal law, family law, civil litigation and Social Security disability claims.

No other Cumberland County offices representing Windham and Raymond are up for election in November. <