FALMOUTH — Rep. Mary Nelson, D-Falmouth, credited high voter turnout and support for local candidates for her re-election Tuesday in House District 112.

Nelson, a two-term incumbent, defeated Republican John Logan Jones of Falmouth 3,231 to 2,622.

“(Winning) feels very good. It was a long campaign and I worked very hard and I’m grateful to the voters of Falmouth that they elected me to another term in the Maine House,” Nelson said.

Nelson, now retired, works exclusively in Augusta in the Legislature and served on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. Jones spent the last year working in Colorado on U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s presidential campaign.

Jones was also one of the contested Paul delegates from Maine at this year’s Republican National Convention.

Nelson said she believes that voters really listened to her message throughout her campaign and said she will continue to work hard for Falmouth.

“I’m looking forward to returning to work with a great group of fellow Representatives, continuing to work hard on education issues, providing jobs for Maine citizens, protecting our environment and making Maine the wonderful place to raise a family and live that we know it is,” she said.

Both candidates spent Election Day shaking voters’ hands outside the polls at Falmouth High School, where turnout and new registrations were both very high. According to Town Clerk Ellen Planer, 7,628 ballots were cast and nearly 600 new voters were added to the rolls.

Jones said that while he did not win, the election and campaign process was one of the best experiences of his life.

“Falmouth voters take a lot of time to evaluate candidates and ask some tough questions and I am humbled by the 2,622 voters who placed their confidence in me,” he said.

He said that he hopes Nelson will take concerns about growing debt levels to heart, because Falmouth residents cannot afford higher taxes and don’t want to pass debt onto their children.

Jones said he currently has no plans to run for office in the future but he is not opposed to the idea.

“One of the reasons this was one of the best experiences of my life is that it taught me so much about the nature of politics and how to be more effective next time around,” he said. “I won’t write it off, but there are no plans as of right now.”

Amber Cronin can be reached at acronin@theforecaster.net or 781-3661 ext. 125. Follow her on Twitter @croninamber.

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