Sen. Libby Mitchell, the incumbent in District 24, has smiled, coaxed, browbeaten, charmed, wheedled and at times simply powered her way to the top of the state's Democratic party.

She's a smart and aggressive old-style politician in the guise of a Southern grandmother. And as a lawmaker both in the House and Senate, she's been committed to representing the interests of her constituents (she played a decisive role in fighting off an attempt by state university trustees to diminish the autonomy of the University of Maine at Augusta), as well as advancing her party's liberal agenda.

With such a dominating opponent, it's no wonder that, when asked why she's running, Republican challenger Kim Davis says simply, "Because Libby is."

Davis, who has long been involved in Augusta politics and served one term in the House, doesn't offer much more of a platform than complaints that Democrats are anti-business and pro-tax.

Senate District 24 has a powerful and effective advocate in Libby Mitchell. We endorse her re-election and if sent back to the Statehouse, where she's likely to become president of the Senate, we urge her to apply her considerable influence to an urgent goal that has so far been ignored by Democratic leadership: lowering the state's income tax.