GOP race in 1st District pits veteran vs. newcomer

Second in a series

The primary campaign for the Republican nomination to represent Maine’s 1st Congressional District pits a highly recognized party leader and Iraq war veteran against a first-time candidate centered on family values who has shown a strong ability to collar campaign contributions.

Both Charles Summers, 48, of Scarborough and Dean Scontras, 38, of Eliot are vying to replace Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, who has represented the district for more than a decade. Allen is stepping down to challenge Sen. Susan Collins.

Summers and Scontras describe themselves as conservatives who want to reduce government spending while at the same time maintaining a strong defense.

Although he may be less well known and not have the endorsements from party leaders that Summers has tallied, Scontras has managed to best his rival in one important facet of the campaign – raising money.

According to the most recent campaign finance reports, as of March 31 Scontras had received more than $273,000 in contributions compared to Summers’ $182,000. However, Summers fundraising may have been hampered because he was serving as a naval officer in Iraq until mid-May and was prohibited from participating in any campaign activities. Scontras, on the other hand, has been raising money since he announced his intention to run last year.

“I was told when I started a year ago that I had to raise $100,000 in the first quarter if I was to have a chance, and I did that,” Scontras said recently. “Raising that was a huge effort, and I built my campaign from the ground up. What I’m most proud of is that in the last quarter I’ve received contributions from all 16 Maine counties.”

Summers may trail in fundraising, but to his advantage he is already well known in the district. Summers moved to Maine in 1982 after finishing college in Illinois. He held jobs in the hospitality industry in Bangor and South Portland and ran a small business in Biddeford. He ran successfully for the Maine Senate when he captured a historically Democratic seat representing the Old Orchard-Saco area in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Summers finished second in a four-person Republican primary race for the 1st District in 1994 and mounted an unsuccessful run against Allen in 2004. Between races he worked as an aide to Sen. Olympia Snowe and as New England regional administrator for the Small Business Administration. He has served in the Naval Reserve for the past 13 years.

“I just returned from Iraq, and I can tell you that the surge is working,” Summers said. “I came back intact and I’m fortunate for that. I was ‘outside the wire’ on reconstruction teams and saw firsthand how the Iraqi Security Forces have come together. I believe we have to keep the troop levels where they are today for the next 12-18 months so we can continue to train and help the ISF assume control of their country.”

Scontras grew up in Kittery, where he starred on the high school football team. He also played on a partial scholarship for the University of Maine team that contested the national championship. Scontras attended graduate school in Washington, D.C. He worked with various technical companies before moving back to Maine “for the quality of life” and rejoining his extended family in southern Maine. Scontras describes himself as a strong family man and one proud of his Greek heritage.

“As I walk the district, the big thing I’m hearing from the people is their concern about the economy. That is by far the biggest issue,” Scontras said. “We have a $34 trillion debt hanging over the head of our children, and it’s a $34 trillion debt we can’t afford. We simply have to get our own house in order, ease up on entitlements and get Medicare and Social Security under control. The U.S. House of Representatives needs to recognize that.”

Summers also pledged to work to reduce government spending. He said the deficits have made it difficult to manage the economy. He said making the Bush tax cuts permanent would result in more money in the treasury because low taxes spur economic growth.

“We have to get spending under control. First and foremost we have to cut spending,” Summers said.

While both candidates tend to agree on most issues, the two men part company on veterans benefits. Scontras said that while he would “fight hard” to keep the Department of Veterans Affairs funded, “mandated spending has got us where we are now.”

Summers said he supported help for veterans because “these are the men and women I served with and they are doing the job and doing it very well.”

Abortion is another area where the two differ. At a recent Values Voter Forum in Portland sponsored by a number of family-oriented agencies, Summers described himself as “pro-choice,” not because he believes abortion is a good idea but because choice is a private matter. Scontras said he proudly accepted the endorsement of the National Right to Life organization and pledged never to change his convictions for political expediency.

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

338-9546

Coming next: the bond issue referendum