WATERVILLE -- The House District 76 race is an all-Colby College affair.

In the Democratic primary, Colby junior Henry Beck squares off against 1999 Colby graduate Antone C. "T.J." Tavares. On the Republican side, Colby senior Andrew Kabatznick, unopposed in the primary, prepares for the general election.

Beck and Tavares have the most hands-on political experience.

Tavares served two terms on the Waterville City Council, including a stint as chairman for most of his second term, which ended in December 2006.

Beck is a current member of the city council, representing Ward 2.

Kabatznick has not served in elected office, but he helped Rep. H. David Cotta, R-China, win the House District 55 seat in 2006.

The Colby trio is vying for the seat held by Democrat Marilyn Canavan for the last four terms. She has reached her term limit.

That would suggest the Republican in the field, especially one with little political experience, would be a long shot at best.

Kabatznick, though, doesn't see it that way.

"I think in my favor," he said, "is the fact that Waterville has a Republican mayor in Paul LePage and part of my district is in Oakland, which has been Republican until recently."

But regardless of his chances, Kabatznick shares with his Democratic counterparts a strong desire to help his community through the political process.

Beck said the House District 76 race is just a prime example of a larger phenomenon.

"I know that in 2008 you are seeing young people getting involved in the political process," he said, "because we are very much at the crossroad in Maine and across the country. And they should be because they want to do something for their community ... This is not about some political organization or about getting press. It is about solving real issues for real people in these communities."

Tavares credits Colby's government department as being the inspiration that gets many Colby students involved in politics. "Colby" magazine, for instance, recently featured an article about the many Colby graduates involved in the presidential primary races, including former students working for the Obama, Clinton and McCain campaigns.

"The Colby faculty is absolutely tremendous," Tavares said, "and look at the faculty that they have. Almost all of them are folks who have done what they teach. They are not just strictly academics."

Tavares noted that government department head L. Sandy Maisel ran for Congress, while Anthony Corrado is considered a national expert on presidential campaign financing.

To a large degree, though, the Colby trio in the House District 76 race didn't need outside inspiration to run for office.

Maisel, in fact, downplays the Colby affiliation. He points out that Beck, a Waterville native, and Tavares, who grew up in Fairfield, are homegrown candidates with deep ties to local people and a great appreciation for the issues and concerns of the area.

Kabatznick, whom Maisel does not know, is the only one not from the greater Waterville area -- Kabatznick is from Connecticut.

But the Colby senior argues that he sees himself as part of the local community.

"I've lived here for four years," he said. "I consider this my home."

Each of the candidates embraced politics at an early age.

Beck became a member of the city council midway through his freshman year at Colby.

Kabatznick, treasurer for the Colby College Republicans, said the political bug hit him his senior year in high school.

Tavares said getting involved in politics has been his goal since he was 12 years old. That enthusiasm remains strong despite the public attention he received after a judge sentenced him to 200 hours of community service on a theft charge.

The 30-year-old Tavares pleaded no contest to the accusation that he stole $25 in cash receipts from a local bar where he was an employee -- the sentence has since been wiped clean from his record.

"Going through that whole period was incredibly tough," he said, "and regardless of the outcome, the attention it received left a stigma that never goes away."

Tavares, though, is determined to overcome that stigma so that he can fulfill his political ambitions.

It won't be an easy task -- of that Tavares is well aware.

"Henry is certainly going to be a workhorse," he said. "He has done well in all the (political) roles he has had so far."

And beyond the Democratic primary, whoever prevails, Kabatznick awaits, well rested for the general election.

"I like it this way," he said of having no primary opponent. "A lot of people don't know me. This gives me an opportunity to get out there and show people who I am."

Beck, too, is focused on getting his message out and not worrying about his opponents.

At the same time, he admits the field is intriguing.

"I guess you could say we have an interesting cast of characters in the District 76 race," he said.

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com