Incumbent Democrat Stanley B. Short Jr. is being challenged for his seat in House District 106 by Republican Scott Strom in the Nov. 4 election.

Both men are from Pittsfield. The district consists of the towns of Clinton, Detroit and Pittsfield.

Short, 63, is retired after working as a representative in the labor relations department at General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works shipyard. He also worked for 10 years as a lobbyist at the state and federal levels. Short is completing his first term in the House of Representatives, serving on the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.

“For over 30 years, I have been an advocate for the working men and women of Maine, and I have a strong desire to continue that effort,” Short said. “I believe that my experience as a negotiator, an arbitration and mediation advocate will continue to be of value to the political process in Augusta and therefore will continue to be a valuable asset for the people of Clinton, Detroit and Pittsfield.

“I also am running for re-election so that I can continue my fight to bring businesses to Maine that will provide our workers with quality jobs.”

Scott Strom, 40, the Republican challenger, is employed at Argo Marketing Group in Pittsfield. He is a 20-year Navy veteran.

Strom agreed with Short, saying he, too, would like to bring jobs back to Maine if he is elected to the State House.

“I moved back to Pittsfield from Virginia Beach last spring after retiring from the Navy and am shocked by how many businesses have left the area with nothing coming in to replace them,” Strom said. “The No. 1 thing that would help funding local communities would be more jobs coming to Maine.”

Short said the most important issue facing the people of his district and all of central and northern Maine is jobs. When people are out of work and businesses close, less money is spent in the community and tax revenue suffers, he said.

“All of this just adds to the need of state revenue sharing to be returned to its initial percentage,” he said.

Short said he is in favor of Medicare expansion in Maine because it will provide “life-saving health insurance” to uninsured Maine veterans.

“In addition, I believe that by including 70,000 uninsured Mainers, it will not only be of great value to each of them; it will also be of great value to our hospitals, as they have been providing treatment to the uninsured and in many cases receiving no compensation for it,” he said.

Strom said he does not support Medicaid expansion.

“I don’t believe it is something the state can afford considering. We are still trying to pay off our debt that is owed to our nursing homes,” he said. “I don’t have a lot of faith in the federal government keeping its promise to pay the first three years. And then, after that three-year period is over, I have never heard anyone explain how Maine would pay for it.”

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Doug_Harlow

Copy the Story Link