When John Baldacci announced he was running for governor, I immediately began thinking about his successor. I realized that Maine had one individual with the talent, experience, and record of accomplishment to make an outstanding representative for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. That person is Senate President Pro Tempore Michael Michaud.

As a member of the Maine Legislature for the past 22 years, Michaud has built a deserved reputation as one of the most hard-working, fair and effective members of the Legislature. His service as Senate Chair of the Appropriations Committee and as Senate president reflect his skills and the respect in which he is held by other legislators.

The economy is undoubtedly the primary issue in the 2nd District. Michaud has a proven record of involvement in and support for economic development. He has hands on experience as a mill worker at Great Northern Paper and as a member of the boards of directors of Eastern Maine Development Corp. and the Maine Metal Products Association.

Michaud understands that there are three keys to economic growth in the 2nd District. They are an educated workforce, development of new and innovative products and technologies and effective marketing of northern Maine’s resources.

Over the last five years, Michaud has been instrumental in the expansion of the Maine Technical College System. As a working man, Michaud understands the opportunities a degree from MTCS opens up for its students. Over the past 6 years, MTCS has grown from 4,500 students to 6,500. More than 95 percent of its graduates find immediate employment or continue their education, and it remains the best educational bargain in Maine, at about $2,000 a year.

Michaud also recognizes the importance of bachelor’s and advanced degrees. Last year he sponsored legislation that created the Blue Ribbon Commission on Postsecondary Educational Attainment. The Commission’s work has led to ongoing efforts to increase the educational attainment of Maine people. Currently, our rate of 24.1 percent of the population aged 25 or over with at least a bachelor’s degree trails both the New England (30.8 percent) and national (26 percent) averages. Michaud knows an educated work force is essential to raise Maine’s per capita income above its current ranking of 35th in the nation.

As chair of the Appropriations Committee, Michaud was instrumental in recent efforts to expand investment in research and development. Under his leadership, targeted R&D investment in the University of Maine System has gone from nothing to $11 million a year. The university has leveraged this investment into nearly four times that amount in grants and contracts. As a result, the State Science and Technology Institute recently ranked Maine No. 1 in growth in academic R&D spending. Just this year, Michaud helped earmark $9 million in proposed bond funds for improvements to engineering facilities within the university system.

The Maine Technology Institute, which makes investments in emerging companies and products, has been created and now puts $7 million a year into growing Maine companies. Michaud has also been instrumental in the Maine Biomedical Research Fund, which builds upon Maine’s leadership in this area at Jackson Laboratories in Bar Harbor and other facilities.

Education and R&D investments improve Maine’s economy, but the long-term growth Maine needs requires investment from outside the state. Michaud understand the importance of marketing Maine to the rest of the world. As chair of the Appropriations Committee, he was a key supporter of the study that showed Maine received an 11-1 return on tourism marketing. That led directly to last year’s decision to dedicate over $6 million a year to these efforts.

The key to business investment in Maine is making them aware of our resources and abilities. Michaud has been instrumental in funding the Business Assistance Marketing Program (BAMP), which provides economic developers with the resources to market Maine worldwide. As our congressman, Michaud has pledged to take an active role in marketing Maine, including meeting with CEOs and site selectors.

There are many other challenges facing voters in the 2nd Congressional District. Michaud has proven he is not afraid to take on vested interests to meet the needs of Maine people. He took on the drug companies and sponsored groundbreaking legislation to create the Maine RX Program. He knew they would fight this effort to lower drug prices and as chair of the Appropriations Committee had the foresight to set aside funds to defend the program in court. As your Congressman, he will fight to establish a prescription drug benefit in Medicare and to provide universal access to health care.

Senate President Pro Tempore Michael Michaud is a man in touch with the working people of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. Let’s send someone who is one of us and will fight for us to Congress. For the economy, for health care, and for so much more, Mike Michaud is the best choice on June 11.

Alfred G. Mosca is a former employee of Great Northern Paper Co. and is currently owner and managing broker of Coastal Real Estate Agency in Bangor.