Name: John Frary
District: U.S. Congress, 2nd District
Age: 67
Occupation: Associate editor of the International Military Encyclopedia, Selectman, town of Farmington; professor of history (retired).
Education: Farmington High School, University of Maine (BA), Rutgers University, (MA; PHD Course Work And Examinations), Princeton University (postgraduate work).
Political experience: Candidate for Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders (1981); Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Committee (2005-2007); Farmington Board of Selectmen (March 2006-present).
Military experience: Two years of ROTC (Learned to march in step, spit-shine shoes, and polish brass).
Community service/volunteer experience: Worthy Steward, Chesterville Grange. Vestryman, St. Stephen’s 20 Traditional Anglican Church. Work with Rotary, Elks, Masons, and Sons of the American Legion. Contributions to Parents for Playgrounds, Old North Church Restoration, the Build the Bridge Project in Farmington, the Cutler Library, B&B Equine Rescue, Farmington Animal Shelter, Clearwater Ministries Food Pantry, St. Stephen’s Traditional Anglican Church Food Pantry.
Family: Five cats (Jasper, Jerry, Paws, Cyclops, Tiberius). Older brother, Joseph (living in the Philippines), older sister, Anne (living in Farmington), younger sister Carolyn (living in Falmouth).
Why are you running for office? I agree with 83 percent of the voters who don’t think the present Congress deserves re-election and I don’t see a single thing that distinguished the present 2nd District incumbent from the mob of political sociopaths dominating the present Congress. Nobody else wanted to take him on, so the job falls to me.
What is the most concerning issue facing Mainers at this time? How do you propose to fix that? Energy. I won’t be fixing anything, no single Congressman has the knowledge or power to “fix” this problem. I favor drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf and in Alaska. I believe the Gulf of Maine should be explored. I’ve advocated an immediate effort to open the way – the construction of an oil refinery plant on the grounds of the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone.
Name: Michael H. Michaud
District: 2nd Congressional District
Age: 53
Occupation: Paper Mill Worker
Education: Schenck High School, East Millinocket
Political experience: United States Congress 2002-present, Maine State Senate President 2001, Maine State Senate 1994-2002, Maine House of Representatives 1980-1994.
Community service/volunteer experience: East Branch SnoRovers, board member, East Millinocket Federal Credit Union and Credit Committee; Eastern Regional Conference Task Force on the Environment, board member, Katahdin Regional Development Corp.; Knights of Columbus, member, USW Local 4-00037 (formerly PACE Local 1-0037); and past vice president, United Paperworkers’ International Union Local 152.
Why are you running for office? When I travel around our state, I hear from so many Mainers who are worried about the state of our economy.
After I was elected to Congress, the mill I worked in for 29 years closed down. I saw my closest friends and family members lose their jobs.
Today our entire economy is threatened. But while we’re bailing out banks and Wall Street, Mainers wonder who’ll help them as they worry about losing their jobs, losing their retirement. Too many Mainers are being forced to choose between buying medicine or groceries or heating fuel. No Mainer should have to make these choices.
I have dedicated my time in Congress to fighting for the priorities of Maine families. I have been honored to serve and clearly there is a lot of work left to do. I hope the people of Maine see fit to send me back.
What is the most concerning issue facing Mainers at this time? How do you propose to fix that? Mainers are extremely concerned about the state of our economy. I have made economic development my highest priority in Congress. I have been proud to author and pass legislation creating the Northern Border Regional Commission. This Commission, modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission, will deliver $30 million per year to the most economically distressed counties in Maine. The money will be used to fund economic development programs and infrastructure projects that will create jobs now and promote growth for the future.
Also, from my position on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have been able to deliver nearly $1 billion to fund Maine’s transportation infrastructure. Maine citizens and businesses know the economic importance of maintaining good roads and bridges, especially in a state as large as ours. Additionally, I have worked hard to fund Research & Development that will help Maine create the jobs of the future. For example, I have secured over $20 million for the University of Maine’s Advanced Engineering Wood Composite program, which has created 12 new businesses and strengthened 78 others. Clearly more needs to be done and I am committed to fighting every day to create jobs and strengthen Maine’s economy.
