FORT KENT – State Rep. Troy Jackson, elected as the independent legislator for District 151 in November 2002, has joined the Democratic Party, bringing the Democrats’ majority in the Maine House of Representatives back to 81.

The change, made this weekend, will be official this morning when Jackson’s card is filed with election officials at Fort Kent. He signed the card and gave it to Henry Carbone, Fort Kent Democratic chairman, on Saturday night.

“The Democrats are the people I have identified with in Augusta,” Jackson said Monday afternoon. “The issues that are really important to me and to the people of my district are those being pushed by Democrats in Augusta.

“I am still an independent thinker, and this change in party won’t change that,” he continued. “I can help the people of my district more as a member of a major party.”

Jackson, who was elected over incumbent Democrat Marc Michaud in the last election, was welcomed Saturday to the Democratic Party at an Aroostook County Democratic meeting in Presque Isle.

Last week, Jackson was named to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Sustainability of the Forest Products Industry in Maine by Democratic House Speaker Patrick Colwell.

The Labor Committee member said he had been mulling the change for a long time. Members of both parties have been after him to join them since he took office in January 2003.

The Fort Kent representative said that even the Republican leadership in Augusta seemed to think he was more of a Democrat than a Republican. Jackson said there were rumors that Republicans would run a candidate against him in November.

After Jackson’s change to the Democratic Party, the Maine House of Representatives has 81 Democrats, 66 Republicans, one Green Independent and two unenrolled independents.

One seat is open because of the resignation of Rep. Marie Laverriere-Boucher, a Democrat from Biddeford. A special election will be held in that district on Feb. 3.

Rep. Stanley Moody, a Republican from Manchester, changed his party affiliation and joined the Democratic majority.

Jackson said he has not been a one-issue legislator in Augusta, although many seem to think he is because of his major involvement with logging issues. He said he has been working hard on other issues such as health, retirement, and hunting and fishing issues.

“I just want to be the legislator for people of the district,” he said. “Except for a handful of Republicans, there was not much support for issues I believe in, like the working person.

“Republicans seem to be more interested in what the cost is for business than what can be done to help people who work,” Jackson said. “I click more with Democrats than Republicans on the Labor Committee.”

“You can’t be bought, and you are committed to helping the workers and small business,” Rep. William Smith, D-Van Buren, House chairman of the Labor Committee, wrote in a Democratic press release. “I’m proud to be a Democrat when people like you join the party.”

Judy Paradis, Aroostook County Democratic chairwoman, said Jackson was given a standing ovation Saturday afternoon at the Democratic county meeting in Presque Isle.