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State Rep. Peter S. Kent, D-Woolwich, plans to run for re-election in the new House District 53. |
By J.W. Oliver
A Dresden small-business man and advocate for the fisheries industry hopes to challenge a three-term incumbent for a seat in the Maine House of Representatives.
Rep. Peter S. Kent, D-Woolwich, and Jeffrey K. “Jeff” Pierce, R-Dresden, will run in the new House District 53, which consists of Dresden and the Sagadahoc County towns of Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg and Woolwich.
A small slice of Richmond also lies in District 53; the rest of the town is in District 55.
A state representative since 2008, Kent currently represents District 65, which consists of Woolwich and parts of Bath, Brunswick, Topsham and West Bath.
He sits on the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and chairs the Engrossed Bills Committee in the House.
A self-employed carpenter, he lives in Woolwich with his wife, Megan Evans, and two children.
Kent would have to shift focus somewhat as he responds to the needs of constituents in the new District 53. The district has only one town, Woolwich, in common with his present district.
“I think there’s going to be a learning process on my part,” Kent said.
“Lincoln County is sort of facing in another direction for me,” he said. “The last six years, I pretty much faced south from where I am.”
The new district will bring issues common to coastal towns, like Phippsburg. Dresden, meanwhile, has several farms, which makes for “a good fit” with Kent’s position on the agriculture committee.
The veteran lawmaker is prepared to advocate for his would-be constituents in the Legislature.
“I always tell people when I run, you really need to bring the issues to me,” Kent said. “I’m not here to create issues that I think you need serviced.”
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Dresden Republican Jeffrey K. “Jeff” Pierce, a small-business man and advocate for the fisheries industry, plans to challenge a three-term incumbent for a seat in the Maine House of Representatives. (D. Lobkowicz photo, LCN file) |
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For Pierce, the race will be his second foray into state politics. The Augusta native ran for the Maine Senate in 2012, challenging Sen. Seth Goodall, D-Richmond. Goodall defeated Pierce, winning almost 64 percent of the vote to secure his third consecutive term.
Senate Democrats subsequently elected Goodall majority leader. He resigned from the Senate in June 2013 for a position with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Sen. Eloise A. Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, now holds the seat.
Pierce owns a small business, Jeffrey Pierce Restorations and Renovations. He is the executive director of both the Alewife Harvesters of Maine and the Maine Elver Fisherman Association.
A member of the Dresden Planning Board since 2002, he became its chairman in 2011.
He lives in Dresden with his wife, Ann Pierce, who serves as the Dresden property tax collector. The couple has two adult sons, Benjamin and Zachary.
Pierce hopes to bring common sense and an everyman perspective to the Legislature.
“We have a lot of lawyers up in Augusta, and we need to really start getting people who own businesses, who understand what it’s like to write a paycheck,” Pierce said. “We need people who work with the community every day.”
The candidate described himself as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate.
“My wallet’s on my right, my heart’s on my left,” Pierce said.
Pierce looks forward to a race with “good debates about the issues” and about Maine’s present and future, instead of party-line rhetoric.
“We’re all Mainers,” Pierce said. “We need to do what’s best for the state, not what’s best for a party.”
The towns of the new District 53 are currently split among five districts.
Pittston Democrat Timothy I. Marks represents the present District 53, which includes Dresden. Boothbay Democrat W. Bruce MacDonald represents District 61, which includes Arrowsic and Georgetown. Harpswell Democrat Jeremy G. Saxton represents District 64, which includes Phippsburg. Bowdoinham Democrat Seth A. Berry represents District 67, which includes Richmond. Kent represents District 65, which includes Woolwich. Kent is the only incumbent eligible to run in the new District 53.
The changes to the districts are the result of constitutionally mandated reapportionment in 2013.
Democrats and Republicans will elect nominees in the primary election June 10. Kent and Pierce are the only candidates for their parties’ nominations.
The deadline for a candidate to file with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State in order to appear on the ballot is March 17.
