Levesque vows to work for Mainers
By Natalie Bazinet
After spending the past 15 months criss-crossing the state listening to thousands upon thousands of people from all parts of the state, Republican candidate for the 2nd Congressional District Jason Levesque is adamant that the biggest issue affecting Mainers right now is jobs.
“No matter where you go in Maine, every area has a distinct set of needs that all revolve around jobs,” he said. The issues surrounding unemployment differ greatly from region to region and such is true of northern Maine.
“We have a different economy in northern Maine — based on agriculture, natural resources and small cottage industries. We have communications and infrastructure problems that they don’t face in southern Maine … our culture is different, our transportation is different and all these need to be taken into consideration when we look at how to develop the entire state and the entire district.”
“We can’t have one area of the state prosper and just forget the others,” he added, stating the necessity of approaching Maine’s economic situation with a very holistic plan where all parts work together utilizing regional strengths in order to make the state better.
Touring the state taking in the thoughts and problems of his potential constituents has afforded unique opportunities for Levesque, his wife, Tracy and their three children — Levesque saw his first blue potato in Cyr Plantation, for example.
All the people Levesque has met have a story, and most of those stories have started with “I’m so glad you’re listening, because Washington doesn’t listen to us anymore.”
“The minute representatives stop listening is the minute they need to be fired,” Levesque said. “Mike Michaud didn’t listen to us on health care, on stimulus, on cap-and-trade or on increasing the debt ceiling of this government,” he added.
A self-made Republican campaigning to represent Maine’s second district in Congress, Jason Levesque’s story is one of hardship, perseverance and success achieved quite literally by pulling himself up by his own bootstraps.
Levesque attended West Virginia Wesleyan University after graduating from his Auburn high school but was forced to put his education on hold after only a few semesters when finances ran short; he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the 1st Infantry division where he earned the designation of Expert Infantry.
Increasing in rank throughout his career, his leadership qualities were noticed by superior officers who elevated him in rank and responsibilities as an Infantry Team Leader. Upon discharge, he served six years in the U.S. Army Reserves and embarked on several extended tours of duty as a drill sergeant at Fort Leonard Woods, MO.
With a seemingly insatiable desire to further his education, Levesque continued his collegiate career at the University of Southern Maine where he worked his way through school by helping youths as a swimming instructor for the Portland School System and the Lewiston YWCA. His leadership skills and organizational knack was noted by several marketing firms, through which he later gained additional employment managing and training employees around the country.
The culmination of his experiences through the military, universities and the private sector afforded him a sound foundation to start the Agro Marketing Group in 2003, which he built from the ground up into a nationally recognized marketing logistics firm. The company currently employs directly 35 local workers and, through affiliate companies contracted with Agro, has helped provide employment for hundreds more throughout Maine.
“I’m a proven job creator,” Levesque said. “If you look at my background, I’m a husband, I’m a father, I’m a veteran, I built a business and employ 35 people — I understand what it’s like to sign both sides of that paycheck.”
“I know what it’s like in the trenches, so to speak, and that’s what the people of Maine want in Washington speaking for them,” he added.
Levesque may have been born and raised in the Lewiston/Auburn area, but he’s less “from away” than one would think; his grandfather grew up on a potato farm that straddled the Madawaska/Grand Isle border; his family often returned to The County for visits and vacation. A testament to his upbringing, Levesque loves ployes and his favorite is cretons.
While many candidates make numerous promises along the campaign trail, Levesque makes one that he is positive he can keep.
“I will work extremely hard and tirelessly for the people — I will be their eyes and ears in Washington and back home,” he said. “It’s one that I’m confident I can keep.”
