Guerrette, Jackson
vie for Senate seat
CARIBOU, Maine — The race for Maine’s Senate District 1 will feature a former senator and a newcomer, as Troy Jackson of Allagash, who served six years in the Maine Senate, and Tim Guerrette of Caribou, a city councilor and local firefighter, will face off for the seat this November.
Tim Guerrette announced in late February that he is seeking to represent Senate District One in the Maine Legislature. The seat is currently held by Sen. Peter Edgecomb, a Caribou Republican who has served a combined five terms in the Maine Legislature and has opted not to run for re-election.
Born and raised in Aroostook County, Guerrette was first elected to the Caribou City Council in 2015. For over two decades he served as a firefighter and paramedic, and still travels to businesses teaching first aid and CPR to businesses. Since 2000 he and his wife Erica have been small farmers, growing and selling cabbage.
“Senator Edgecomb has done incredible work for Aroostook County while in the Legislature. His 10 years of service, and many years serving our region as an educator before that, deserve our gratitude. I am proud to be able to step up and run for Senate District 1 to continue his work,” said Guerrette.
“My goal is to visit every corner of District 1, speak to people about their concerns and hopes for our region and state, and use that information as my guide at the State House should I be elected. From welfare reform to economic growth to education, I know there are many issues of importance to the people of Aroostook County that need a strong voice at the State House.”
Troy Jackson announced his campaign in January. He served six years in the Maine House of Representatives, at which time he chaired the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. He was first elected to the Senate in 2008 and during his tenure chaired the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee as well as the Labor Committee. From 2013-14 he served as majority leader. He is currently one of two members of the Democratic National Committee for the state and the political director for Bernie Sanders in Maine.
In addition to his political work, Jackson is a lifelong logger and at different times has operated his own mechanical harvesting business. He is a member of the International Painters and Allied Trades union and has worked at the nuclear power plant in Seabrook, N.H.
“I became involved in political activism back in 1998 when I blockaded the Quebec border with a group of fellow Aroostook loggers because our government had failed to address foreign labor that was displacing American workers,” he said. “Working class people and small business owners do not have lobbyists like special interests and large corporations do, so we have to use our own voices if we’re ever going to change things in a place like Aroostook County.”
Jackson said, “I hope to be a voice for everyday people. I think that is the most important thing a legislator can do for the folks in their district. I still remember the frustration I felt back in 1998 when I was just a young man trying to work hard and provide for my family. I believe we all deserve to have a government that works for us, not against us.”
Senator Jackson resides in Allagash with his wife, Lana; they have two children, Chace and Camden.
Maine’s Senate District 1 is comprised of the municipalities and unorganized territories of Allagash, Ashland, Caribou, Castle Hill, Caswell, Connor Township, Cyr Plantation, Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, Frenchville, Garfield Plantation, Grand Isle, Hamlin, Limestone, Madawaska, Mapleton, Masardis, Nashville Plantation, New Canada, New Sweden, Northwest Aroostook Unorganized Territory, Oxbow Plantation, Perham, Portage Lake, Square Lake Unorganized Territory, St. Agatha, St. Francis, St. John Plantation, Stockholm, Van Buren, Wade, Wallagrass, Washburn, Westmanland, Winterville Plantation and Woodland.
