Guerin and Evans seek the region’s seat in Maine Senate
On Tuesday, Nov. 5 Piscataquis and Penobscot County residents who are not voting absentee will be heading to the polls — please check with the town offices for specific times and locations — to vote in the Presidential and Maine U.S. Senate elections and make a choice for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District representative. These residents will also vote for who will serve in the Maine Senate District 4 seat.
SENATE DISTRICT 4
Representing all of Piscataquis County and Bradford, Charleston, Corinna, Corinth, Dexter, Exeter, Garland, Glenburn, Hudson, Kenduskeag, and Levant in Penobscot County
Stacey Guerin
(R-Glenburn)
Incumbent
Age: 66.
Occupation: Former second grade teacher, small business owner.
Education and/or military: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, University of Maine.
Family: Married to Joseph Guerin for 43 years. We have five marvelous sons and a wonderful bunch of grandchildren!
Political experience: I have been honored to serve four terms in the Maine House of Representatives and three terms in the Maine Senate.
Community/volunteer experience: I have had many opportunities to serve my community. I served many years as a 4-H leader participating in four different clubs. I am a University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, and have enjoyed teaching others about gardening through their demonstration garden program. For six years I served as chairperson for the Legislative Memorial Scholarship Committee, raising tens of thousands of dollars for Maine students to further their education. I am an active member of The Rock Church. Nationally, I was honored to serve as chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Women in Government organization.
Why are you running for office? I want to ensure that Maine is a place where my children and grandchildren and the children and grandchildren of my constituents can live in freedom, safety, and affordability.
What is the most concerning issue facing the region at this time? I believe inflation and housing are two of the biggest issues facing my constituents. Failed government policies have caused the cost of energy, groceries, housing, and essential services to skyrocket.
Dr. Richard A. Evans
(D-Dover-Foxcroft)
Age: 75.
Occupation: Physician and surgeon.
Education and/or military: Bachelor of science microbiology with a minor in chemistry Howard University, Washington, D.C.; doctor of medicine Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa.
Commander, 28th Medical Group, Lt. col, USAF, Ellsworth AFB, SD; commander, 812th Strategic Hospital, Lt. col, USAF, Ellsworth AFB, SD; commander, 351st Strategic Hospital, Lt. col, USAF, Whiteman AFB, MO; chair, Department of Surgery, Offutt AFB, NE; director, Congressional Efficiencies Project, Offutt AFB, NE; chief, Hospital Services, Loring AFB, ME.
Family: Married with a blended family of two daughters, one son, six granddaughters, and one grandson.
Political experience: Maine State Representative, House District 120, 130th Maine Legislature, 2020-22
Community/volunteer experience: Member, Board of Trustees, Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care; member, Board of Trustees, Maine Health Access Foundation; immediate past president, Organization of State Medical Association Presidents; past president. Maine Medical Association; Maine Senior Delegate to the American Medical Association; past chair, New England Delegation of the American Medical Association.
Why are you running for office? I am running to represent Senate District 4 to ensure that the voices and concerns of all the citizens of Piscataquis County and Northern Penobscot County are heard in Augusta. From the days of my youth growing up in a poverty-stricken and crime ridden area in Houston, Texas, I saw then what I am seeing in many of our communities today. I have walked in the shoes of many in our district. I know what it is like to not have breakfast before school, to not have lunch at school, to go to bed without a meal, to not have the proper school supplies or fashionable clothes to wear to school. And yes, I know what it is like to have to go to work after school until 10 p.m. and make certain that I had completed all my homework before going to bed. My parents had no formal education beyond the 9th grade. We did not have health insurance and did not have indoor plumbing until I was 16 years old.
As a veteran and former hospital and medical group commander in the USAF, as a physician and surgeon, as a past president of the Maine Medical Association, and as the immediate past president of the Organization of State Medical Association Presidents, all layered on top of the values instilled in me by my parents at an early age, I have a profound sense of service, advocacy, compassion, humanity, character, and leadership. My lived experiences do not allow me to sit on the sidelines and watch as my fellow citizens struggle unnecessarily.
I believe that I have a moral duty and a responsibility to do the greatest good for the greatest number of those in my district and for the people of the state of Maine.
What is the most concerning issue facing the region at this time? I believe that there is not a single issue alone, but a cascade of multiple issues that coalesce in affecting the lives of residents of our rural area. Understanding this concept helps us to understand how we can best address the problems that we are experiencing. Piscataquis County faces significant economic challenges, including limited employment opportunities, inadequate access to affordable housing, and food insecurity. We also have a significant problem of substance use disorders. Fortunately, we now have a recovery center in Sangerville to help address this on-going problem of substance use disorders due to a bill that I co-sponsored to ensure that every county in Maine has at least one such center. To address the other issues as noted, the state of Maine and local governments must take a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach. To reduce dependence on a few industries, the state and local governments should promote economic diversification by incentivizing businesses from various sectors to invest in the region. Offering tax credits, grants, and workforce development programs can attract technology, renewable energy, and small manufacturing companies. Expanding broadband infrastructure is critical for enabling remote work opportunities and fostering entrepreneurship in rural areas.
Access to affordable housing is a major issue in Senate District 4 and across Maine. The state should collaborate with local governments to develop housing programs that encourage the construction of affordable homes. This could include low-interest loans for developers, grants for housing projects, and partnerships with nonprofits to renovate existing structures. Local governments can streamline permitting processes to make housing development more efficient. Additionally, Maine should establish a statewide Land Bank Program that acquires vacant, underutilized, or tax-foreclosed properties and repurpose them for affordable housing.
We must also increase support for food banks and expand access to nutrition assistance programs. By improving partnerships between local farms and food banks through grants and incentive programs, we can bolster local food systems and reduce food insecurity. Local governments should also explore establishing community gardens and cooperatives to support food production in the region.
Improving transportation and infrastructure is key to economic development. The state should prioritize funding for rural transportation networks, connecting Piscataquis County in particular, to urban centers thereby creating better access to jobs, healthcare, and education. Additionally, investing in energy-efficient and sustainable infrastructure projects can create local jobs and provide long-term economic benefits.
By addressing these key areas, the state of Maine and local governments can create a more sustainable and prosperous future for Senate District 4 and its residents.
Website/social media page:https://richard.mainecandidate.com/, Dr. Richard A. Evans for Maine Senate on Facebook.