PORTLAND – Candidate for Congress Dean Scontras today released a list of more than 50 prominent Maine and national business leaders who are supporting his bid to win the Republican nomination for the open 1st District seat. “President Reagan was once asked the difference between a big business and a small business,” said Scontras. “His response was that a big business is what a small business would become, if only the government would just get out of the way. I am proud to have such a diverse group of business leaders supporting my campaign message of the need for government to get out of the way of business.”
“Being pro-business is a core Republican principle, and it has been the foundation of this campaign,” continued Scontras. “This list of supporters consists of business leaders from across the state, both large and small businesses, from multiple vertical markets – tech, finance, hospitality, manufacturing – from Maine and across the country. While a typical politician might roll out a list of legislators who support them, or boast of union endorsements, these are people who are part of the economic engine, people I have personally met, people whose support I have earned the old-fashioned way.”
“The last thing we want is to send someone to Washington who had a hand in crafting the current Maine economy,” said Steve Smith, owner of MeetingHouse Mortgage. “Dean gets it. He understands that government is not the solution to our economic challenges, but more often is the cause of many of the most costly challenges.”
“If you are a business owner in Maine or America today, you are engaged in a competition. You compete against other businesses, against other countries. The last thing you need is to compete against onerous government regulations and punishing tax codes. Our government should not prevent small businesses from becoming big businesses,” said Scontras. “As the European Union deregulates, we are going the other way. American is losing its competitive edge.”
“It is important that the next generation of congressmen understand the nuances of the modern, global economy,” said Kurt Bertone, a Brown University graduate, former Bell Labs executive and founder of numerous global technology companies. “Dean will be a representative who has worked for small and large businesses that reach across the globe. We must understand the new pressures of a rising India, China and Europe. Dean has made a career in that environment. That’s the sort of thinking we need.”
As part of his announcement, Scontras has invited other members of the business community to join his business coalition by emailing him at dean@teamdean08.com.
Business Leaders Endorsing Dean Scontras
Bill Ryan
Former CEO, TD Banknorth
Jim Gorman
LL Bean
Jeff Harris
Partner, Harris Golf
A.G. Spanos
Owner, San Diego Chargers
The Honorable Joe Bruno
CEO, Community Pharmacies
Jeff Kane
CEO, National Distributors
Peter Bennett, Esq.
The Bennett Law Firm
John Bridge
Former CEO, Bridge Corp.
Denis Sparangis
Owner, Eggspectations
John Babb
Owner, J & S Oil
Mike Mastronardi
Business Consultant
Al Noyes
CEO, Walsh Publishing
Jerry Ade
President, Ade Property Management
Chris Lynch
Owner, Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty
Don Rivers
Owner, Rivers by the Sea
Greg Cloutier
Realtor, Old Orchard Beach
William Scarborough Jr.
Northland Construction
Jay Kane
V.P., Oakley Networks
A.J. Steffenberg
Critical Analysis, IBM Software Group
Dan Bouzianis
Owner, Alagonia, Inc
Tina Ambrose
Owner, The Oaks - An Art Gallery
Phineas Sprague
Retired Energy Executive
Howard Patten
Owner, Patten Construction
Maureen Hemond
Owner, Len Libby Candies
Vince Neault
Owner, Provident Concrete
Mike MacNaboe
CEO, Symphonix
Chase Bailey
Former Chief Scientific Officer, Cisco Systems
Pat Rocheleau
Owner, Rocheleau Custom Homes
John Hathaway
President, Aw Shucks Maine Lobster
Margaret Fenderson
Manager, Big Rock Ent.
David MacMaster
Owner, Butler and MacMaster Automotive
Tom Chase
President, Littlefield Brothers
Steve Smith
President, MeetingHouse Mortgage
Jeff Forbish
Owner, Noell's Café
Gary Koch
Former CEO, AirPlus Limited
Don Macaulay
Owner, Faircrest Motel
Andrew Siegel
Co-Owner, When Pigs Fly Bakery
Jim Cronin
Owner, Resource Marketing
Kurt Bertone
VP Product Management, Convergence
Ed and Sheila Bull
Owners, Rhumb Line Resort
Dr. James Faulkner
Faulkner-Teguis Orthodontics
James Heavey
Financial Advisor, Wendell and Reed
Jimmy Simones
Owner, Simones Hot Dog Stand
Mary Schiavoni
President, Speech Pathology Associates
Barbara Hill
Owner, Kennebunkport Designs
Terry Elsemore
Owner, Fractional Strategies
Jeff McCarthy
Partner, Northbridge Venture Capital
Michael Werner
Partner, Flagship Ventures
Dave Schaeffer
Founder, CEO, Cogent Communications
Allan Hillman
Owner, The Wireless Zone
Dr. Cynthia Battel
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of Mid-Coast
James Duclos
Owner, Saco Bay Web Design
Jefferey Marshall
Owner, Marshall Brothers Landscapers
Brad Bradstreet
Financial Services Manager
Lori Solari
Owner, Spa at River's Edge
- J. Scott Moody, vice-President of Policy and Chief Economist, The Maine Heritage Policy Center
It is in the spirit of Scott's observation that I am running for Congress. It is with the support of business leaders like those listed here that I will go to Washington to represent Maine's Next Generation economy. To join the list of business leaders working to bring bold, new ideas to our economy, e-mail me at dean@teamdean08.com.
