LEAD sponsors candidates in the Shiretown

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
FORUM — LEAD sponsored a candidates forum in Houlton Monday evening. Attending were, from left, Dan Levesque, Roger Sherman, Troy Haines, Joyce Fitzpatrick and Mike Jenkins.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The first of three forums sponsored by Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD) was held in the Shiretown Monday evening at Houlton High School.
    About 20 individuals attended the meeting, which featured State Representative District 7 candidate Troy Haines (Democrat); District 8 incumbent Joyce Fitzpatrick (Republican) and challenger Michael Jenkins (Democrat); and State Senate District 34 incumbent Roger Sherman (Republican) and challenger Dan Levesque (Democrat).
    House District 9 candidates incumbent Patrick Hunt (Democrat) and Ricky Long (Republican), as well as House District 7 incumbent Alexander Willette (Republican) were unable to attend the forum.
    The second forum, held in partnership with the University of Maine Presque Isle, is Monday, Oct. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. Independent Mark Goughan, Democrat David Martin and Republican Carol McElwee are the candidates for Representative District 4. Also invited are, from District 5, Republican Michael Willette and Democrat Robert Saucier; and District 6, Republican Tyler Clark and Democrat Darrell Adams.
    The final forum is set for Monday, Oct. 29 at Madawaska High School from 7 to 9 p.m. Invited are District 1 candidates, Democrat John Martin and Republican Allen Nadeau; District 2, Democrat Charles “Kenneth” Theriault and Republican Jonathan “J.J.” Roy; and District 3, Republican Bernard Ayotte and Democrat Gail Maynard.
    The public is invited to attend those forums and participate by asking questions.
    LEAD members Jason Parent and Virginia Joles served as moderators for Monday’s forum. Each candidate was asked the same nine questions and given two minutes to answer. LEAD President Jon McLaughlin welcomed the candidates and audience members.
    “LEAD is a non-profit organization created more than 26 years ago for the purpose of encouraging development in Aroostook County,” McLaughlin said. “In those 26 years, LEAD has become a recognized advocate for Aroostook County businesses in Augusta and Washington D.C.”
    A recurring theme from all five candidates throughout the evening was the importance stimulating the economy; lowering costs for health care; ending the bi-partisan problem in Augusta; and supporting agriculture in the state.
    “I’m concerned by the amount of jobs we are losing in Maine,” Levesque said. “I’m also concerned about affordable health care coverage for Maine working class and small business.”
    Sherman stated he was proud of his efforts over the past 14 years serving in the Legislature and was eager to continue working for small business and agriculture if re-elected.
    “Ingenuity and innovation are the engines of economic development in Aroostook County,” said Haines. “Aroostook County has more open agricultural land than the rest of New England combined. We will be feeding the greater northeast in the decades to come.”
    Fitzpatrick said she has enjoyed her time working with the insurance and financial services committee and feels her background in insurance contributed to many of the bills that came before the Legislature.
    Jenkins said his main concerns were health care, education and small business in Aroostook  County.