Staff Writer
The chairman of the Aroostook County Democratic Committee has called for media outlet to stop running advertisements from the Alliance for Maine’s Future, which allegedly distort the record of Rep. Troy Jackson. (D-Allagash). Jackson is running for the Democratic nomination to represent Senate District 35. His opponent is Gary Pelletier of Cross Lake.
In a press release earlier this week, Virginia Manuel of Houlton, chairman of the county’s Democratic Committee said that alliance has submitted advertising to county newspapers that distort and misrepresent Jackson’s legislative record.
“At a time when Maine people are paying record-high gas and heating oil prices, it is incomprehensible for a group like the Alliance to misrepresent the record of good, hard working public servants like Rep. Jackson who is standing up for the people of northern Maine,” said Manuel.
When reached regarding the party official’s demand, Pelletier declined to offer comment.
“I don’t know what the Democratic Party wants to do and I don’t have any idea whether these ads are false,” said Pelletier.
“I am asking all newspapers and media outlets to stop running or pull all future ads from the Alliance which is clearly pushing it own political agenda. I am also asking for an apology from the Alliance for its misrepresentation of Troy’s legislative record,” said Manuel.
“Troy is one of us, has served us well and worked hard as a state representative, and the people in Aroostook know that he is looking out for us,” added Manuel.
The party official said that Alliance accused Jackson of voting to increase driver’s license fees.
“That is simply untrue,” Manual’s statement said. “The truth is Rep. Jackson helped reduce state spending in the state’s budget by $170 million.”
Manuel also said that the ads accused Jackson of raising taxes by $70 million in the “middle of the night,” referring to Jackson’s support for Dirigo Health, which she claimed is used by approximately1,000 Aroostook County families and businesses for health care.
Manuel said since Dirigo was formed, over 28,000 Maine small businesses, families, and lower income individuals have had health coverage.
“Rep. Jackson’s support has helped make that possible,” Manuel said. “The actual revenue increases to sustain Dirigo are estimated at $47.5 million. Dirigo has actually helped save the state’s health care system more than $100 million since its inception — all costs that Mainers would have been paying extra all along if the program didn’t exist.”
Manuel said that it was “strange” that the Alliance was also attacking Jackson for being “a good listener.”
“Don’t we want legislators who can be both good listeners and activists for the people of northern Maine?” Manuel said. “Haven’t these qualities served Rep. Jackson and the people of Northern Maine well when he led the cause on issues like fair wages for loggers and independent truckers?”
Manual questioned the priorities of the Alliance, saying that the organization should be attacking the Bush Administration for high gas prices.
“Don’t they (Alliance officials) understand that we in Aroostook County need more people like Troy in Augusta to stand up for us and our needs in these hard economic times?” said Manuel.
