Comment on House District 39: Two newcomers seek House nomination

A self-employed lawyer and a small-business owner with a background in labor organization are each hoping to represent the eastern end of Portland’s peninsula and its islands in the Maine Legislature. Both relative newcomers to politics, Andrew Edwards and Michael Sylvester will compete in the Democratic primary on June 14 to run for House District 39 in November against Republican Peter Doyle. The seat is held by Democrat Diane Russell, who has to step down because of term limits and is running for state Senate. Edwards, 29, grew up in Aroostook County.