Compiled by Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
District 2 includes Frenchville, Madawaska, New Canada, Perham, Portage Lake, St. Agatha, Stockholm and Westmanland, plus the unorganized territory of Square Lake (including Cross Lake and Sinclair Townships).
Charles Ken Theriault
District 2 Incumbent Representative Charles Ken Theriault (D-Madawaska) has served in Augusta for the past four years in the 123rd and 124th legislatures. He has also served on the Maine State Legislature Council to Canada andm the United Way Board of Directors. He has been the president of local Fraser Papers employee assistance program, Maine State Labor Council director and a Fraser Paper employee and contract negotiator. He has also been an Acadian Festival chairperson and a Grand Knight of Council 2638.
Theriault believes that the most important issues currently facing his constituents are maintaining jobs that the are currently has, working to expand on those jobs and preserving rail service in the County.
If elected, his goals include working to increase job opportunities by investing in people and small businesses as well as working to provide opportunities through education and working to reduce energy costs.
“I believe that I have the best interest for the citizens in District 2 that I have represented now for four years. I have the experience to work across the aisle to get to the solutions that get better results for everyone,” Theriault said.
He has lived in The County all but three years of his life, during which he served the Country, but for all of his life, serving the citizens of District 2 was one of his goals. He also bring to the table experience in contract negotiation and contract language.
Theriault lives in Madawaska with his wife Patsy, a former librarian. They have two children — now grown men — and four grandchildren who they cherish.
Rudolph T. St. Peter
Candidate for District 2 Rudolph T. St. Peter (R-Cross Lake TWP) decided to run for office “because of the lack of work to which are legislators have failed to perform for the constituents of Aroostook County now,” he said.
St. Peter is currently the commander of the American Legion Post. Retired from Fraser Paper, he served three years in the Marine Corps, one year in the Army and 21 years in the National Guard; St. Peter is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Jobs are the most important issue that he believes his potential constituents potentially face. “Our Democratic candidates in the state of Maine have for 40 years told people in the House and Senate that they would be providing jobs for our people and have failed to provide our constituents jobs,” St. Peter said. “Today they are campaigning on the same notion that they would provide jobs and lower our taxes which they have failed to do for 40 years.”
“Why are we putting the same people in office over and over again and getting the same results: nothing?” he added.
If elected, St. Peter’s primary goal would be to seek a smaller LEGISLATURE that is transparent and accountable to Maine citizens. “Tax relief for all citizens of Maine and lower spending of our legislators —House and Senate — and make them accountable for their spending,” he said. He would also work to provide all Maine citizens the same health care system that the House and Senate are receiving presently. St. Peter also feels that streamlining LURC procedures to accomplish citizen filing in 30 days. “At present, it’s two to six months,” he said.
For the reasons previously mentioned, St. Peter believes that the people of District 2 should vote for him.
A resident of Cross Lake, St. Peter is a father and a grandfather.
