Voters will decide on Nov. 6 which of two candidates will represent their in the State Senate — Peter Edgecomb or incumbent Troy Jackson.
Senate District 35 includes Allagash, Caribou, Castle Hill, Caswell, Connor Twp., Cyr Plantation, Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, Frenchville, Garfield Plantation, Grand Isle, Hamlin, Limestone, Madawaska, Mapleton, Nashville Plantation, New Canada, New Sweden, T11-R14, Perham, Portage Lake, T17-R2, T17-R3, T17-R4 a/k/a Sinclair, T17-R5, T15-R6, T16-R4 a/k/a Madawaska Lake, Staint Agatha, St. Francis, St. John Plantation, Stockholm, Van Buren, Wade, Wallagrass, Washburn, Westmanland, Winterville Plantation and Woodland.
Full name and age:
Peter E. Edgecomb, 71
Political Party: Republican
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors, titles have you earned?
Caribou State Representative, eight years; Caribou City Councilor, 1979-82; Town Meeting moderator; member of the Superintendent’s State Executive Committee, one of three finalists for “Young Teacher of the Year.”
What is your career background?
Teacher of agriculture, 20 years; Vocational Director, 10 years; Superintendent of Schools, nine years; roadside vegetable stand/Farmer’s Market; Christmas Tree grower.
What made you decide to run for this office?
Continue my desire to have a positive impact on the lives of Maine’s citizens and their future.
What do you see as your primary goal if elected?
Create jobs by: reducing the size of state government; less spending; eliminating needless regulations and lowering energy costs. I will do this by continuing to work in a bipartisan effort with common sense solutions.
Name and age:
Troy Dale Jackson, age 44
Political Party: Democrat
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors or titles have you earned?
Maine House of Representatives (District 1), 2002-08; Chairman, Labor Committee (124th Legislature); Chairman, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Committee (123rd Legislature); Chairman, Henderson Brook Bridge Reconstruction Task Force; Chairman, Citizen’s Trade Policy Commission; Chairman, Harness Racing Commission; Member, Governor’s Task Force on the Sustainability of the Forest Products Industry; UMFK Alumni Association’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2004; Maine Educator’s Assoc. Friend of Education Award 2009; Solidarity Award presented by the Maine Labor Council 2011; Edie Beaulieu Legislative Award presented by the Maine AFL-CIO 2011; and Professional Logging Contractor’s Legislator of the Year 2012.
What is your career background?
I have worked in the forest products industry for 26 years, most of them as a logger. Several generations of my family before me were loggers and this year I was proud to have my son join me in the profession.
What made you decide to run for this office?
I decided to run for office after I became frustrated with unfair labor practices that were being decided in Augusta and hurting northern Maine’s workers, businesses and families.
Since being elected, I’ve dedicated myself to making sure that Augusta knows what we’re experiencing in northern Maine. I believe that our best days can be ahead of us and that our abundant natural resources offer incredible opportunity for a local economy that is innovative, able to adapt, and creates jobs. Working people and small business owners are not just the backbone of our economy; they’re our friends, neighbors and family members.
What do you see as the most important issue facing Aroostook County?
I believe that despite the struggles of the last few decades we can find a way to restore growth by focusing on what we’re good at and what we do best.
The potential is here for new industries that can develop by utilizing the resources of our forests, farmlands, and natural beauty. This is crucial because working people need steady, good-paying jobs in order to sustain a strong middle class. A strong middle class means a strong economy.
What do you see as your primary goal, if elected?
I will continue to foster an atmosphere that will allow entrepreneurs to create jobs. One of my top priorities when I return to Augusta will be to continue to fight to overturn the Insurance Rate Hike Bill. We need good, stable jobs here in Aroostook and my focus is to direct Augusta to do what it will take to make that happen.
