Maine 'gamer' wins state Senate seat

WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) — A Maine state Senate candidate's love of a sometimes violent online role-playing game didn't prevent her from winning election.

The Morning Sentinel ( ) reports that Democrat Colleen Lachowicz beat incumbent Republican Thomas Martin Jr. by 913 votes Tuesday in the race for a seat that represents communities in Kennebec and Somerset counties.

The state GOP last month created a website critical of Lachowicz for playing the game World of Warcraft and making "crude, vicious and violent" comments while playing. Republicans said playing the game distracted her from her partially taxpayer-funded job as a social worker and clinical supervisor for Kennebec Behavioral Health.

Lachowicz called the criticism a political stunt and she encouragement support from fellow gamers worldwide.

Martin said he had nothing to do with the website.

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Information from: Morning Sentinel,