Vote 2008 House District 24 Dexter-Charleston area

Republican

Douglas A. Thomas

Age: 58

Hometown: Ripley

Address: 306 Stream Road

Education: Graduate of Mount View High School; attended Unity College

Family: Married to Darlene; six children, eight grandchildren

Occupation: Owner of retail firewood business, three employees

Experience: Four years House of Representatives Transportation and Labor committees; four years selectman in Ripley; three years SAD 46 school board; five years Somerset County Economic Development Committee; Somerset County Budget Committee; Regional Transportation Advisory Committee Region 4

Reason for running: We need more and better jobs in Maine. We can accomplish that by lowering taxes, reducing electric rates, and cutting the cost of health insurance. We need better and safer roads in Maine. If we spend current revenues more wisely and set different priorities, we can have them without raising taxes. It’s time to apply the principles of life to state government that our parents taught us. We know better than to allow government to do the things they’ve been doing in Augusta.

Democrat

Tammy Lockhart

Age: 50

Hometown: Dexter

Address: 288 Charleston Road

Education: University of Maine System

Family: Married; two children

Occupation: IT Support

Experience: Former journalist and small-business owner. Volunteer with the Corinna Health Building Project, the Dexter Playground Project, Wassookeag Pre-school Program, Dexterfest, programs at SAD 46, Abbott Memorial Library board of trustees, the Dexter Bicentennial Committee, the Dexter Energy Committee and Meals for ME. Was in the charge of the publicity effort for the new SAD 46 school.

Reason for running: I am running because I believe we need to focus on the local economy and attract quality jobs to the area. In recent years, we have seen jobs leave central Maine while our unemployment rate soared. Now we must look to the future, aggressively pursuing sustainable jobs in the creative economy and alternative energy sources. No one will work harder than I will to bring quality jobs to our area.”