Praise for Cote in ME-1 from Sanford voters

Congressional candidate Adam CoteSANFORD -- In Sanford's first two wards, turnout was light in the after-work hours.

Voters who came through, however, eagerly offered up reasons for picking their candidate of choice. They went to high school with him or knew his family.

Seven of the eight Democrats interviewed by PolitickerME.com said Adam Cote was an easy choice for them. The eighth said she voted for Mark Lawrence, also from York County, because he was a friend of the family.

Cote and Lawrence face four other Democrats in the 1st Congressional District primary.

The same people who claimed to be Cote fans did not know much about Tom Ledue, an educator from Springvale who is challenging U.S. Rep. Tom Allen for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination.

"I like the idea that Adam Cote is running," said Ann Laitres of Sanford. "I know his dad, he's from a good French family. I don't know much about Tom Ledue, but he's from Sanford, so that was good enough for me."

Andrew Dumond of Sanford said the fact that Cote was from Sanford was one of many reasons he voted for him.

"Adam Cote did a very good job getting out there and getting his name out," Dumond said.

For Ron Allaire of Sanford, it was Cote's youth that appealed to him. At age 35, he's the youngest in the race. "I've known his family for years, and like his views," he said.

Dan Plant of Sanford went to school with Cote. "He grew up the same way we did."

But, said, state Rep. Andrea Boland (D-Sanford): "It really doesn't matter where the people are from," she said.