Saturday was a busy day on the campaign trail, marking the beginning of fair season for me. I attended both Woolwich Days and the Rockland Lobster Festival. I had a great time and wish I had more time to spend at both events.
I arrived in Woolwich, where one of Maine's most active and organized Town Republican Committees had a booth that was very visible from busy Route 1. I was greeted like one of the family by chairwoman Liz Warnke, Susan Wasserott, Senator Paula Benoit and Carl Young. (Special thanks to Carl who spent some time watching George the Beagle.) My son Jack quickly made it to the water slide while I quickly made my way to the booths. I met people from the greatest generation and from the next generation.
One of the first people I met at Woolwich was a Jewish gentleman who had immigrated here to escape persecution. He recalled as a child sending his relatives care packages while they were being detained in Nazi Germany. One day, as he remembers, “we just stopped sending packages.” Powerful stuff.
I participated in some vigorous discussions with conservationists, union members, volunteer fireman, woodworkers and authors alike. We agreed and we disagreed, and I enjoyed each conversation. I spoke with a conservationist who expressed her view that the environment is the cornerstone of our legacy here in Maine and should be protected. I could not agree more. We must maintain our pristine environment while attracting new jobs. It simply is not enough to have people coming here for outdoor vacation experiences. We need to attract companies to create jobs so that our own population can remain here to enjoy the Maine outdoors.
My wife and I chatted with the members for the local fire department and I am now the proud owner of a "Town of Woolwich Historical Society" t-shirt. I had an emotional discussion with some parents who desperately want their kids to stay in Maine, but stand by helplessly while their children grow up and look for opportunity beyond Maine's borders. One grandparent shared with me that her 14-year-old son thinks that ROTC is his only way out of the state. We need to keep our kids here in Maine. I have first hand experience with this, and as your congressman I plan to focus on this brain-drain problem.
The Rockland Lobster Festival was great! Our first stop was the Knox County Republican Committee booth. While Route 1 traffic delayed our arrival, Bill Chapman was kind enough to prolong his birthday celebration until we got there. Special thanks to Steve Dyer for keeping him company for the extra hour. Rockland was a much different pace than the Woolwich event. I met some wonderful people from Maine, New York and Florida. I met sailors who were in port from the Navy vessel docked just off the coast and I thanked them for their service.
I think my son Jack, daughter Zoe and George the Beagle had the best time in Rockland. They spent time on the rides, the climbing wall, the roller coaster, and enjoying the food. Jack even talked Mom into a ride on the tilt-a-whirl. The highlight of my day was the football toss that was sponsored by the Rockland Middle School football team. While I didn't win the prize, I felt like I still had the stuff. I promised the coach and the players that I would return for the Rockland v. Bucksport game in October. I can't wait!
After a long day we feasted on a wonderful lobster dinner topped off by blueberry cobbler. I had a chance to meet Jim and Cindy Heavey. Cindy was running in the 10K the next day. They are wonderful, well-informed, citizens, active in their community, and in local politics. I felt honored to have met them, the rank and file of the citizenry that the Founding Fathers had in mind when this nation was created on the simple idea of liberty.
We returned home late Saturday night, exhausted, but a good exhaustion. With the kids passed out in the back seat and my wife Dawn nodding off as well, I pulled into the driveway feeling like this was a good day… a very good day. I look forward to seeing you at your local fair!
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