House District 53

Wiscasset area

Republican

Les Fossel

Age: 61

Hometown: Alna

Address: 167 Dock Road

Education: BA in sociology, Lake Forest College, 1969

Family: Married; two children, two stepchildren

Occupation: Restoration contractor, Restoration Resources owner and founder

Experience: Deck House School treasurer, University of Southern Maine faculty, Alna School Board, Union 48 School Board, Maine Businessmen for Social Responsibility, Morris Farm Trust board, Commission for Maine’s Future Executive Committee, firefighter 33 years, State Fire Prevention Board, Lincoln County Fire Chief’s Association, Selectman, County Budget Committee, town welfare director, Regional Planning Agency chairman, Capitol Planning Commission, Mid Coast Hospital corporator, Alna 1st Responders Founder, EMT Advisory Council, DaPonte String Quartet vice chairman, W&Q Railroad treasurer, Committee for Alna History chairman, Alna Historical Society treasurer, Maine Preservation Vice-chairman, Lincoln County Historical Association Board

Reason for running: I have spent much of my life making things work better. When we are 35th in per capita income yet at least 15th-highest in taxes, our state government is clearly not very functional. I will work to lower the cost of state government and increase its efficiency and accountability just as I have in my business, in local government, and in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations.

Democrat

Tim Nason

Age: 56

Hometown: Dresden

Address: 183 Alexander Road

Education: Brookline (Mass.) High School (Mass.); BA and MFA, Vermont College; MA New England Studies, USM (pending).

Family: Married to Susan Leiter; six adult daughters.

Occupation: Graphic designer for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, town of Dresden, other organizations and businesses.

Experience: Chairman, Dresden Conservation Commission; former chairman, Friends of Merrymeeting Bay; former president, Dresden Historical Society; former member, Dresden Economic Development Committee; chairman, Lincoln County Democratic Committee (on leave).

Reason for running: I love Maine and its people. Having lived here 36 years, I know the difficulties of making a living. I seek to serve the people of my district in a nonpartisan way that emphasizes practical, long-term investment in Maine’s future. Community economic development – supporting local small business and natural resource industries – is my top priority.