Washington County voters, like voters throughout the state and country, will be choosing among candidates for state and federal offices in the Tuesday, November 8, election that could shape the direction that Maine and the United States take on numerous issues, from the economy and climate change to abortion rights and the health of the democracy.

2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
      In a rematch of the 2018 race, Democratic Congressman Jared Golden will again face Republican former Rep. Bruce Poliquin, along with independent candidate Tiffany Bond, in a contest that could help decide control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Four years ago, Golden had defeated Poliquin in a very close race.
      As in 2018, ranked-choice voting (RCV) will again be used in the congressional race this year. Voters will choose their candidates by order of preference but do not have to rank candidates. Voters may also mark their chosen candidate in every ranking spot. If no candidate receives more than half the votes, RCV tabulation kicks in, and the candidate with the most votes in the final round is the winner.

Tiffany Bond
      Tiffany Bond lives with her family in Portland but is planning to move to the 2nd Congressional District's Sandy River Plantation in Franklin County. She is a family practice lawyer.
      On her website she lists the following issues: climate change; healthcare reform; fiscally responsible use of taxes; Second Amendment protections with sensible regulations; pro-privacy when it comes to abortion access and other personal decisions; student loan reform; and other reforms.
      When it comes to climate change, Bond says it is the greatest threat of any facing the country, being an issue of national defense, economic and humanitarian concern. "It is not a partisan issue and should be uniting us all. It's a terrific opportunity to take the lead, create jobs and create a sustainable future."
      Health insurance is a disaster, she says, with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) deeply flawed. However, she notes that it needs to be updated and improved while steps are researched and then taken to create a model that has elements of single-payer, universal coverage and market features or other ideas that "require collaboration."
      Bond used to consider herself a fiscal conservative. However, she says that cutting budgets is not always a long-term solution. There are times when spending more creates the needed results, and those results are not always financial but include factors such as the health of children or a reduction in crime.
      Gun regulations are important, she says. "Sensible regulation should help keep guns in the hands of those who are responsible. In other words, I don't care if you hunt, I do care if you hunt people, and no one needs a tank to hunt a moose."
      Privacy from government control extends beyond abortion access, Bond says. "Consider [that] the government power to tell a person that they must continue a pregnancy is the same power that would allow for a government to tell you that you must end one, and how you must live generally."

Jared Golden
      Congressman Jared Golden of Lewiston serves on the Small Business Committee and the Armed Services Committee. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.
      Golden stresses six priority areas on his website: campaign finance reform, expanding healthcare, supporting seniors, good jobs, serving veterans and the environment. He has worked on the following for finance reform: a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United court decision; a bipartisan effort for legislation banning members of Congress from trading stocks while in office or ever working as federal lobbyists; and the For the People Act, which would limit partisan gerrymandering, bolster ethics rules, reduce the influence of private money in politics and expand voting rights.
      He supports the Affordable Care Act and expanding access so that every American can have health coverage. He supported lowering prescription drug prices through the Inflation Reduction Act; supported numerous bills to expand Medicare coverage, including dental, hearing and vision care; and backed a bill to allow states like Maine to take advantage of full federal funding to support Medicaid expansion. Concerning abortion, he supports a woman's right to choose.
      Social Security and Medicare are promises that must be kept, he states, and he supports protecting and strengthening these programs through a number of measures that benefit senior citizens.
      For jobs, Golden supported the largest infrastructure package in U.S. history, which will make significant improvements to broadband access, replace lead pipes and fix roads and bridges. He supports legislation to grow the logging workforce, to plan the future of shipbuilding and to protect the lobster industry. He secured over $7 million in community project funding for Maine, with a particular focus on logging apprenticeships, shipbuilder training, first-responders and economic development.
      From improving transition services for newly-returned veterans to improving VA healthcare for older veterans, Golden has been working to improve the lives of Maine veterans.
      Golden opposes efforts to weaken important environmental protections. While in office, he has backed legislation to keep the U.S. in the Paris Climate Agreement, among other actions.

Bruce Poliquin
      Bruce Poliquin served as the 2nd Congressional District representative from 2015 to 2019. He was a member of the Financial Services Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee. In 2011 he was selected during the LePage administration as the state treasurer.
      Poliquin outlines on his website the following areas of prioritization: fighting inflation to lower grocery bills, home heating costs and gas and diesel prices with a "balanced budget amendment to end wasteful spending that is driving up inflation." He would work to secure the southern border with Mexico to stop drugs from entering the country. In the past he "fought to fund the border wall and stop illegal crossings." He says that he visited the border and knows that illegal immigration harms Maine.
      According to his website, Poliquin supported veterans as a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee in Congress, held the Veterans Administration accountable for malpractice and worked to secure better healthcare in Maine. With healthcare, he ensured access by working to keep the doors open to rural hospitals and voted to cover preexisting conditions while lowering prescription drug costs.
      Poliquin worked with former President Trump to cut taxes for the lower middle class and claims that he helped build one of the strongest economies in U.S. history with little inflation. By supporting police funding, Poliquin also worked to protect the retirement savings of police officers and firefighters, his website states.
      Poliquin states that he believes in protecting the Second Amendment and all constitutional freedoms. He would work to ensure Social Security and Medicare are protected and strengthened. Poliquin has a record of being staunchly pro-life but has stated to the media that "the state of Maine has protections. Abortion is allowed in the state of Maine."

GOVERNOR
      Incumbent Democratic Governor Janet Mills is facing Republican challenger and former Governor Paul LePage and independent candidate Sam Hunkler in the state's gubernatorial race.

Sam Hunkler
      Independent candidate Sam Hunkler of Beals states on his website: "Because of my medical profession, I had the opportunity to live and work anywhere in the world. I have been a jack of many trades: a teacher, carpenter, doctor, father, National Health Service Corps, U.S. Peace Corps, nonprofit director (Samburu Trust) and counselor."
      Hunkler lists his primary areas of concern as children's health, including stable housing, treatment for parental health, food security, a changed educational system, climate change and more. The educational system, he states, needs to be tailored to student needs and regional differences in the state, and he explains "that what is needed in Portland is often quite different from what is needed in Beals." He supports student loan repayment for teachers and aides who commit to five years in the profession.
      Hunkler would lower taxes on real estate that are primary homes and homesteads by increasing the homestead exemption. He would increase taxes on secondary and seasonal houses. He would consider an increase in tax on noncommercial gasoline and fuel from May 15 to November 15 during the summer when the state has over 8 million visitors. He believes the surtax could then decrease the fuel tax the other six months to help residents heat their homes in the winter and travel to sporting events. He supports lowering taxes for businesses and corporations in exchange for increased worker salaries and benefits. To tackle the opioid crisis he suggests converting one prison to drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and he believes in some kind of universal health coverage.

Paul LePage
      Former Republican Governor Paul LePage served two terms. His website lists his accomplishments as: decreased the size of state government through hiring freezes and eliminations of vacant positions; cut the state retirement pension debt by over 40%; implemented the largest tax cut in Maine history - including a 0% income tax rate for 70,000 low-income Maine families; repealed the annual increase of the gas tax; assisted family-owned businesses by increasing the threshold on the inheritance tax from $1 million to $2 million dollars; eliminated the sales tax on fuel for Maine's commercial fishing vessels and fuel used in the agriculture and forestry industries; exempted military retiree pensions from the state income tax; led the fight for welfare reform to not only protect the neediest but to ensure people found their way to economic freedom including, work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults; removed Maine's status as a "sanctuary state," ensuring that Maine's limited welfare resources are reserved for Maine people; required drug testing for welfare recipients convicted of drug crimes; banned the purchasing of tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, bail and tattoos with TANF cash; supported legislation to add sex trafficking as a crime under Maine law; and increased K-12 education spending while holding tuition stable in Maine's higher education system.
      The LePage website states that the issues he will address are: lowering inflation; protecting jobs and growing the economy; lowering costs of home heating, gasoline, diesel, food and electric utilities while protecting the environment; phasing out the Maine income tax; respecting constitutional freedoms, including the Second Amendment and the parents' right to have a voice in their children's education; and healthcare access.

Janet Mills
      Janet Mills is seeking her second term as governor. Her website lists her accomplishments as: expanding healthcare through MaineCare to more than 93,000 as willed by Maine voters; meeting the state's share of mandated public education funding for the first time in the state's history; leading Maine through the COVID-19 pandemic with nation-leading results, including one of the highest vaccination rates and lowest COVID-19 death rates in the nation; expanding Pre-K programs across Maine and funding new equipment for Maine Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers; protecting Maine's cherished lands and waters -- including working waterfronts, forests and farmlands -- by reinvigorating the Land for Maine's Future Program; fighting the climate crisis by establishing the Maine Climate Council and working with communities to make Maine more energy-efficient and embrace clean, renewable power; dedicating unprecedented funding to fix Maine's roads and bridges; and providing direct inflation relief to Mainers in the form of $850 checks that will provide economic assistance to more than 850,000 Mainers.
      Mills lists healthcare, reproductive rights, education, the economy, climate change and full equality for all Mainers as the issues she will continue to address during a second term. As governor, she signed legislation requiring insurance to cover abortions and expanded access to reproductive healthcare through MaineCare. Mills believes that the challenges women face in their lives affect their health, families and the state's economic security and competitiveness. As a cofounder of the Maine Women's Lobby, she has been breaking barriers and fighting for gender equity her entire career.

MAINE SENATE DISTRICT 6
      Incumbent Republican Senator Marianne Moore of Calais is being challenged by Democrat Jonathan Goble of Cherryfield to represent Maine Senate District 6. The new district will still cover all of Washington County but will add 10 more Hancock County towns.

Jonathan Goble
      Democrat Jonathan Goble of Cherryfield says his primary interest is the overall economy in Downeast Maine. "Jobs are hard to come by, particularly if you want more than minimum wage." Some jobs are hard to fill, he points out, particularly those that have training or licensing requirements. "Just try to find a plumber," he says, before bringing up the shortage of emergency personnel needed to staff local ambulance crews. He hopes to address this issue by encouraging Washington County Community College to expand their outreach, observing that from much of the county the campus "is an hour away." Expansion of Internet coverage is part of the solution, he adds.
      Infrastructure issues are also a priority, particularly with the number of transportation disruptions caused by weather-driven washouts experienced statewide just this year. "The DOT [Department of Transportation] needs to be out there inspecting," he says, "and the legislature needs to back the costs. Culvert replacements are expensive, but failures cost even more." As for local roads maintained by municipalities, he says, "Five percent revenue sharing isn't enough to cover these repairs, and real estate taxes don't address the issue."
      "A personal concern of mine is healthcare services for veterans," he says, adding that he is an Army veteran. "Maine is a veteran rich environment, but mental healthcare is difficult to access." The recent matter of the proposed closure of the veterans home in Machias was a particular concern, but the issue must be addressed by increasing the number of counsellors and other professionals. "They're overwhelmed."
      A separate veterans' issue is the frequent reluctance to accept military training and experience by requiring veterans to start civilian jobs at entry level. He mentioned the case of a 15-year Army veteran who had served as a military police officer; to be hired as an officer by a local municipality the individual was required to attend the State Police Academy with other first-time recruits.

Marianne Moore
      When asked about dealing with workforce shortages, particularly in emergency management and healthcare fields, Marianne Moore speaks of the training programs offered by Washington County Community College -- programs that include classroom opportunities in more distant towns. She is pushing to have these expanded to include Machias and also providing EMT and nursing programs. "But it goes beyond that," she says. "If they can make more by working at McDonald's, why should they go into healthcare?" She describes an initiative she has proposed in the past and will push for again, where workers in these fields will be paid "125% of minimum wage." Part of the shortage in these fields was, she says, caused by the COVID vaccination policy. "I'm not sure that was handled properly."
      As far as the business slowdown during the off-season, she admits she had no proposal. "Between the cost of heating fuel and the supplies, businesses have no choice."
      She then moves on to the recent spate of homicides, with a number of alleged perpetrators jailed but with no trial date in sight. "Washington County needs its own district attorney," she states, saying, "I'm going to be pushing for this."
      The number of drug overdoses is also on her radar. "They arrest the dealers, but there's always one in the group from New York or New Jersey. We have to get rid of the pushers. Fentanyl is killing our people."
      "If I'm reelected, I'm going back on the Health and Human Services Committee." Of particular interest, she says, are the child welfare system and drug treatment programs.
      Pointing at the number of immigrants entering the state, she observes that a number have medical or other licenses. "Let them work," she says. "We need their skills."
      The health of the state's lobster fleet is also a concern. "The way it's going, there's a lot that will park their boats, and the state will lose an important industry."

HOUSE DISTRICT 9
      For the new House District 9, Republican John Chambers of Calais is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Anne Perry of Calais. The new district covers the municipalities that had been in the previous House District 140 and adds Eastport, Meddybemps and Grand Lake Stream. Other towns in the district are Baileyville, Baring, Calais, Indian Township, Pleasant Point, Perry and Robbinston.

John Chambers
      John "Jake" Chambers is a businessman who has owned various businesses over the past 40 years. For 22 years, he and his wife owned assisted living facilities in Washington County as well as in Hancock, Waldo and Somerset counties. Along with running his businesses, Chambers served in the military, volunteered with the Calais Fire Department, was a patrolman with the police department and worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Since selling their business this past August, Chambers has the time to devote to "this new challenge in Augusta."
      Because of his business experience, Chambers says he knows "what it's like to operate and grow a business in Washington County and the stress that it brings on the business owners due to over-regulation and the decreasing work force." Schools should offer courses in the trades to teach the younger generation "to work with their hands." He doesn't believe all students should be "shuffled off to college like cattle when there are other options." In order to encourage businesses in this area, there needs to be proof that there is a willing workforce. He believes that the unemployed have been paid too long to stay home. Capable workers need to "get off the couch" and find jobs.
      As a result of unemployment there is an increase in domestic violence and drug abuse, he says. Those addicted to drugs need programs for rehabilitation, preferably faith-based, and need to find jobs. But Chambers also feels "we need to attack the drug issues head on by putting the pushers into jail and off the streets." Chambers does not believe that Washington County needs to attract people from outside of Maine but, instead, needs to train the people here to find suitable employment.
      Chambers would effect change if elected by proposing term limits on the state level. He believes there is too much waste in government spending. He would like to see changes to border regulations and immigration because he feels that "Maine should take care of their own, like our veterans, and then help refugees and immigrants after."

Anne Perry
      Rep. Anne Perry is in her seventh non-consecutive term in the House since 2003 when she was first elected. A graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and Husson College with a Master of Science in nursing, Perry is a retired family nurse practitioner who worked at Calais Regional Hospital.
      In addressing the economic situation in Washington County, Perry believes the current situation is unsustainable because older workers are retiring and younger workers are leaving for better jobs. They may be trained here but the lack of suitable jobs is forcing them to look elsewhere for work. Perry is encouraged by the University of Maine at Machias and Washington County Community College for figuring out what skills are necessary to find employment and then offering the specific training to students. WCCC set up a training course anticipating the new equipment the Woodland mill would be using when they expanded to tissue production. In addition, Perry sees paid internships in nursing, firefighting and policing as a practical way to train people who can be paid while they learn. This practice would encourage the younger generation to apply for these important jobs. Perry also feels it is vital to attract people to the area. The Sunrise County Economic Council's proposal for a National Heritage Area designation for Downeast Maine aims at attracting people to the area by showcasing Washington County's natural beauty. Perry says, "We need to sell our area as a place to be, and if we sell the hidden beauty and cultures of Washington County, we can begin to bring people here." Many of these potential newcomers would be able to work remotely from their homes because of the availability of reliable broadband. The installation of broadband as a municipal utility has been a great success in both Calais and Baileyville, and the service is expanding to other towns.
      Rep. Perry says Washington County is in a transitional phase. Communities need to work together, and she cites Eastport and Lubec as communities that successfully reinvented themselves.

HOUSE DISTRICT 10
      In the new House District 10, Republican Kenneth "Bucket" Davis of East Machias is facing independent candidate Melissa Hinerman of Machiasport. The new District 10 covers many of the towns that were in House District 139, which has been represented by Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias. District 10 includes Alexander, Berry Township, Big Lake Township, Cathance Township, Charlotte, Cooper, Crawford, Cutler, Dennysville, East Machias, Edmunds Township, Greenlaw Chopping Township, Lubec, Machiasport, Marion Township, Marshfield, Northfield, Pembroke, Princeton, Trescott Township, Townships 19 and 26, Wesley and Whiting.

Kenneth "Bucket" Davis
      Kenneth "Bucket" Davis of East Machias has worked for 45 years for his school system and still works part-time for it in its transportation department. He has served for 20 years on the East Machias select board, currently as chair. For many years he was involved with school local control issues and went to Augusta to advocate for his community, including to get out of the SAD structure and then to design the AOS structure that allows for local control of schools and budgets.
      "We need to get people involved in trade schools," Davis says. He points to the lack of plumbers, electricians, contractors, welders and more. All fields provide good professions, he notes, and younger students need to be introduced to the opportunities available at trade schools. He adds that he visited a trades school where a car dealer from Bangor was talking to students about the opportunity for hiring right after graduation.
      Davis says there's "way too much tape on some regulations." He points to the need for school bus drivers, and that given the county's demographics the people most able to take on the task are retired. With testing as it is now, he thinks it unlikely that they would pass the tests. "We need to ease up on it."
      Healthcare is too expensive, he says. "It seems like we're helping everyone but our own. Senior citizens are having it very hard." He adds, "I would think the state could help some."
      The local fire departments are getting called to help with more and more situations, including drug-related heath crises. "If we don't get kids off on the right track they get in trouble." Arise Addiction Recovery "has been a big help. We need more programs like that." He would advocate for returning the DARE program to the classroom. He believes that most of the drugs are from out-of-state with dealers needing to be put in jail and fined, with the fines going to fund programs like Arise.

Melissa Hinerman
      Melissa Hinerman is from a family with long ties to the area. She has a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a minor in sociology. She worked in the hospitality and customer service industry for many years. She was very involved in trying to stop the illegal closure of the Downeast Correctional Facility during the LePage administration and says that she learned so much about how the inmates worked on behalf of the local communities and economy. "I was personally able to switch four Republican votes," she says.
      First and foremost, she says, she would work to support medical freedom and repeal vaccine mandates so that medical personnel who quit during the pandemic's mandate would come back to work.
      She would research the elimination of the state income tax. With the aging demographic, a number of different strategies need to be used to attract and retain young working families. One method to put more money back into working Mainers' pockets would be to raise the homestead exemption. Affordable housing is a "huge" problem. Investigating the raising of property taxes for second homeowners or cutting property taxes for year-round homeowners are two possibilities to address the housing shortage. Another would be to develop a tax incentive program for second homeowners who rent out their homes to year-round working Maine residents.
      Hinerman supports student debt relief for those who live and work here, whether from here or not. Trades education is hugely important, as is incorporating law enforcement and fire department education into the classroom to get young students thinking about their community and the ways to support it through their own educational paths and careers. Supporting computer sciences in schools is also important so that the region's students are competitive with the rest of the country. Better pay, benefits and incentives would all be ways to support law enforcement, emergency management, EMTs and others in the public safety fields. "It's all so important," she says of the multiple tracks to use to retain and draw young working families to the county for a healthy economy.

MAINE HOUSE DISTRICT 11
      Democratic candidate Roland "Skip" Rogers of Jonesport and Republican Tiffany Strout of Harrington are running for the House District 11 seat that approximately covers the former House District 138 that has been represented by Rep. Robert Alley of Beals. The new House District 11 includes Addison, Beals, Centerville, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Harrington, Jonesboro, Jonesport, Machias, Milbridge, Roque Bluffs and Whitneyville.

Roland "Skip" Rogers
      “I have an understanding of how nurturing business environments in small communities are developed," says Roland "Skip" Rogers. "I believe this area is poised on the precipice of great achievements. It's time we harness this potential."
      The Jonesport resident wants to be of service to the region and believes his business acumen can help him do just that. In Eastport, for 20 years he was the local manager for the company that operates the port terminal.
      Rogers holds a master's degree in maritime business and served as president of the Eastport Area Chamber of Commerce and as director of Sunrise County Economic Council. Rogers also served on the Route 9 committee and was a board member of the Maine Better Transportation Association.
      Regarding the lack of skilled workers in fields such as healthcare, law enforcement, emergency management and education, Rogers believes to foster and develop economic opportunities here in Washington County digital connectivity needs to be at the forefront of any plan. "People will not relocate here if we can't offer reliable, fast digital connectivity," says Rogers. "This is the key to operating modern businesses and to attracting the people who are conducting that business. There are opportunities for communities to access federal money to address broadband installation. Neighboring communities are already coalescing in Washington County to create their own fiber networks."
      Another prime area that Rogers believes needs to be addressed is the shortage of housing in the county. "Housing, not unlike the other problems facing this area, has to be addressed regionally," he says. "Collective groups of towns must decide how to proceed. One municipality will not have the necessary resources to attack such a gigantic project. Of course, federal funds must be made available for such an undertaking."
      "I'm looking forward to working with the rest of Washington County's delegation to address all the problems facing our region," says Rogers. "Again, a regional approach is what is required to impact most issues."

Tiffany Strout
      “If you are not happy with something I believe you should get involved to help make a change or a difference," says Tiffany Strout. "Visiting Augusta to sit through a session and seeing the disconnect with some of the House members to real life was the deciding factor on me turning in my signatures to be added as a candidate."
      The Harrington resident believes her work experience, ability to communicate effectively and her involvement in the local school district give her a voice of reason, one that would both lead and support the constituents of District 11 while hearing all sides of a problem and collectively moving forward to solve it.
      When it comes to job retention and economic development, Strout believes more focus and money should be invested in the trade sector in Washington County. "Getting kids interested while in school will help grow the interest for further education in the trades," says Strout. "Additionally, having the option for more apprenticeship programs and offering the trade school programs to more adults, at a reasonable cost, will help make a more robust workforce."
      Strout believes further economic development hinges on the "endangered" lobster fishery. "If the Downeast fishery makes it through its current troubles we should be investing in Maine-based processing plants rather than sending them [lobsters] to Canada," says Strout.
      Should the lobster fishery not survive, then Strout believes a different set of challenges presents itself, including crime, mental health issues and a dramatic increase in unemployment. "These issues already exist at a smaller level in District 11, so working with law enforcement and groups like Healthy Acadia and Sunrise County Economic Council I could bring awareness to how we are trying to work on these issues and work towards making sure funding is available to help these and other organizations continue their work."
      "I am always thinking about Washington County's future," says Strout. "Working to set common goals and to make people aware of all of the traditions and hardworking people of District 11 is very important to me."

DISTRICT ATTORNEY
      Incumbent Republican Matthew Foster, the district attorney for Washington and Hancock counties, is being challenged by independent candidate Robert Granger of Blue Hill.

Matthew Foster       Seeking a third term as district attorney for District 7, Matthew Foster believes his experience will continue to best serve both Washington and Hancock counties. "I have put together a team of dedicated, experienced and ethical prosecutors who share my devotion to this work and of whom I am extremely proud," says Foster.
      With the current backlog of cases facing his department, Foster cites that, under his leadership, District 7 has the lowest backlog of cases in the state, 1,557, as of September 9. "I have given my prosecutors discretion to resolve cases in the way that best serves the interests of justice while balancing the difficult issues that have been caused by the pandemic and the underfunding of the judicial system," he says. "Court closures due to staffing shortages and scheduling docket calls only two or three times per year only compound the backlog problem. We will never get caught up if that is the approach the court continues to take. I am also not willing to simply dismiss cases in order to help put a Band-aid on a broken system."
      Regarding cases being pled down or dismissed, Foster cites Rule 18 of the Unified Rules of Criminal Procedure that requires that the state extend a plea offer at dispositional conferences in an attempt to resolve the case prior to trial and that a case can only be tried at the defendant's request. "The prosecution has no say in whether or not a case is tried," says Foster. "If the defendant does not accept the state's plea offer, the defendant can enter an 'open' plea or request a trial by jury or a trial by judge. A case should be dismissed when there is insufficient evidence to support the charges."
      Foster says his office approaches every case fairly and equally. "We review every case fully prior to making a charging decision," says Foster. "No two cases are the same, and each case needs individual attention to ensure that the correct outcome is obtained."

Robert Granger
      “I started my legal career at the district attorney's office, and I have always wanted to return to that work because law enforcement is in my nature," says Robert Granger. "For many years law enforcement officers have also been encouraging me to run for district attorney, and I am finally ready to leave my successful private practice to pursue that goal." The Blue Hill native has spent that last 27 years as a partner with Acadia Law Group in Ellsworth. When asked about the current backlog of cases facing the district, Granger admits the 1,500 pending cases cripple the system and it is estimated to take 15 years to address the backlog. "Unfortunately, Hancock and Washington counties do not have full-time justices in superior court, which amplifies the problem. Having part-time courts, we have no choice but to review all pending cases and find alternative dispositions for victimless and nonviolent crimes that will free up court time. We need to sharpen prosecutorial focus to major violent crimes, sex offenses, domestic abuse and the huge drug trafficking problem." And Granger believes pressure by citizens on legislators to fund full-time courts in both counties is needed more today than ever.
      Regarding cases being pled down or dismissed, Granger points to reducing charges and trial experience as solutions. "First of all, the DA's office needs to focus on major crimes and stop adding every conceivable charge to its criminal complaints, especially when we have a 1,500-case backlog. Over-charging defendants up front simply to dismiss most of those counts in a plea deal sends the message that the prosecutor's office is not serious about pursuing the charges it initiated. Secondly, we have had a chief prosecutor who has refused to actually try any jury trials himself. By taking one prosecutor out of the trial lineup, the assistant prosecutors have had to absorb a larger burden of cases, limiting the time they have to focus on individual cases. They are spread far too thin." Granger says, "I intend to be a hands on prosecutor and actually try serious cases myself."

OTHER COUNTY POSITIONS
      Incumbent Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis of Cherryfield is running unopposed, as is Washington County Commissioner John Crowley of Addison, who represents District 3.
      Also running unopposed are Jill Holmes of Jonesport for county treasurer, Lyman Holmes of Machias for judge of probate, Darlene Perry of Machias for register of probate and Tammy Gay of East Machias for register of deeds.
      (Lora Whelan, Rick Heller, John Rule, Denise Garner and Edward French all contributed to this article profiling the candidates.)