They are a businessman, a retired teacher, a state trooper, and a selectwoman. And now, they're also first-time state legislators. MPBN's Irwin Gratz spoke with them yesterday about their hopes and expectations for the session ahead. They all express hope that they'll be able to work across the aisle for the good of the people of Maine.

"I know it's going to be a lot of hard work," says Christine Powers (left), Democratic state representative for Naples, Casco and part of Poland. "I'm excited. I think that we have a great opportunity to work together really well. And I feel from both sides that there is that hope that we will do a lot of work together."

Powers has served as the lone Democrat on Naples' 11-member Town Council. But she says even in that climate she's been able to work in a bipartisan fashion.

"I didn't know there were particular seating arrangements that mattered to people for seniority and things like that," says new Democratic state Sen. James Boyle (right). Boyle says he's coming to understand that those little things might mean a lot.

"What they told us when they talked about that is that there will be times that the decorum and respect for one another is what helps you get through the difficult speeches and votes," Boyle says.

"Even with all the paper work we've had as we come in - and it can be overwhelming but it is wonderful - already I see the benefits of doing this type of thing," says new Republican state Rep. Carol McElwee.

Irwin Gratz: "Did you know a lot about the legislative process before doing this?"

Carol McElwee (left): "Absolutely no. And so this has been a big learning curve for me, it really has. And that's what's exciting about it."

Tim Marks is a Democrat elected to the Maine House from Pittston. Unlike the others, he's spent time working the corridors of the State House, first as a page, then as a staffer. But that was 30 years - and a state police trooper career - ago.

"A funny story - a week or so, we were in here, and my old office is down the hall. I wasn't really paying attention and I almost ran right smack into a wall that they had placed since the time I was here 30 years ago," Marks says. "I just barely caught myself before I head-butted it. They have moved a few things around on me - but, generally, the same stuff."

Irwin Gratz: "Because of your time as a staffer, becasue you're somewhat familiar with the process, though, you probably do realize the kind of difficulty that you'll have getting things that you want accomplished here."

Tim Marks (right): "Yeah. I do understand that I am one out of 150 here in the House and another 35 in the Senate, and then there's the governor also. So I do understand that part of it. It's a consensus. Like anything, you know, if you can build a consensus and get people rallied around your ideas, then you can get something done."

But attempts to buld consensus, reach across party lines, observe decorum - that all lies ahead for these four legislators. Last week, it was still about letting it all sink in.

"Everyone is so willing to help. The staff here is absolutely amazing. They are wonderful. And they treat you with such respect that you think, 'Wow. I am somebody.' But we don't feel that way. It's a title that we have but we're all just people who are here to help other people in the state of Maine and make this a better state."

Irwin Gratz to Tim Marks: "Looking foward to it?"

Tim Marks: "Very much so. I'm very excited. It was exciting election night. It's exciting and relaxing, sort of, to be through the whole campaign season. The campaign was way longer than I thought it was going to be. I erally enjoyed getting out and meeting people. That was great. My wife always told me, she goes: 'You know, pinched a lot of people, you've arrested a lot of people in this town.' And sure enough, probably about 30 times, I would introduce myself and somebody would say, 'Yeah, you gave me a ticket.' And I would wait and just look at them, and they would say, 'But you were doing your job. I deserved it and, you know, we respect you for that. There was only one guy out of 30, he told me he wouldn't vote for me."

Irwin Gratz to Christine Powers: "Are you excited?"

Christine Powers: "Very excited, yeah. It's a new chapter in my life, so I'm really looking forward to the challenges of it. I know there will be a lot of challenges and I know there will be some days that I won't be excited. But right now, it's a great opportunity and I'm really humbled that when I first was elected to the selectboard I was surprised, and this was a great, humbling surprise. So I'm looking forward to the opportunity to serve."

State Reps. Christine Powers, Carol McElwee, Tim Marks and state Sen. James boyle. We'll catch up with all of them again in a few months.