WINSLOW – Wayne Leach of Winslow, a Republican, has announced his candidacy for the District 25 seat in the Maine Senate. District 25 includes Albion, Benton, Clinton, Detroit, Pittsfield, Unity Township, Waterville and Winslow.

Leach, 70, was born in Ellsworth and has lived and worked in Maine all his life. He attended public schools and the former Farmington State Teachers College. He has held a variety of jobs, including at canning factories, shoe shops, pulp and paper mills, in carpentry, and as a heavy-equipment mechanic and truck driver. He has written and published several books of poetry.

Leach said his priority, if elected, is to make fundamental changes to assure that Maine families have a genuine opportunity to achieve security and prosperity. These changes include cutting taxes for all Maine taxpayers, making student-focused education reforms, and improving access to affordable private and business health insurance.

“We can offer Maine people real tax [relief] and allow them to spend or save their earnings by phasing out the income tax over a period of five years,” he said in a statement “Our children can be prepared for excellence in the 21st century with education reforms that make students the priority.”

Leach is chairman of the Winslow Republican Committee and will be a delegate to the state convention next month. He and his wife of 36 years have four sons and 11 grandchildren.

Leach can be contacted at 872-8998 or at plateroi@verizon.net.