FORT KENT, Maine – Many Fort Kent residents coming to vote at the town office on Tuesday morning showed strong support for Austin Theriault, a Fort Kent native who is running for the 2nd Congressional District seat.
Theriault, a former NASCAR driver, is currently a Maine State Representative and is facing Mike Soboleski in the Republican primary. The winner will take on incumbent Democrat Jared Golden in November.
As of noon, 149 votes had been cast and turnout was steady, although slightly lower than last November’s election, according to a poll worker.
Donald Deprey, 74, a registered Republican, said that Theriault would be a good change for conservative voices.
“He’s a good man,” said Deprey. “I’ve known him all my life. He’s straightforward, and I think he’s gonna do a good job.”
Joyce Labbe, 71, shared Deprey’s sentiments, adding that former president Donald Trump’s endorsement of Theriault has also motivated her decision to support Theriault.
Tracy Caron, 52, who owns Rock’s Diner in Fort Kent, said she believes Theriault will be a great advocate for the needs of people in northern Maine.
“We don’t have as much support as we’d like to think we have, when you find out you have to lump a bill that needs to get passed in the northern part of the state with something in southern Maine, because it won’t get passed unless you do that,’’ Caron said. “It’s sad, but if you don’t link the bills, you don’t get anything up here.”
Caron said she appreciates Theriault’s ideals as well.
“He really is there to support the people,” she said. “And I love his slogan, ‘People Over Politics.” We need that. We need fresh blood out there, and especially in small communities like this.”
Caron said her political affiliation has changed throughout the years.
“I was registered as an independent, then I switched to Democrat,” She said. “And now I’m following more Republican. It’s not just the party anymore. I’m switching to who I think will do a better job.”
Robert St. Germain, 56, a telephone line worker, said the country’s security is the main issue drawing him to the polls.
“This country does need immigrants in order to keep everything going, but I feel like they need to come in legally,’’ St. Germain said. “The other thing, too, is the skyrocketing prices of everything from food to fuel to electricity. We need to curb that a little better.”
St. Germain added that, even with good insurance, the price of prescription drugs has risen significantly.
St. Germain, a registered Republican, said he will definitely be voting for Theriault.
“Austin is grassroots,” he said. “I felt that he did a pretty good job while he was in Augusta, and I feel that he will fight for working families in congress as well.”
Jean Louis Michaud, 73, a registered Democrat, said that things are changing very quickly in the modern era.
“I am trying to support the party that I think will do the best job for us,” he said. “In the state of Maine, and the country as well.”
He said he may consider registering as an independent in the future, so he can have more options when voting.
Michaud said he has mixed feelings about President Biden’s current position in the polls.
“I haven’t decided what I want to do yet,” he said. “I’m waiting for the big debates.”
The town of Madawaska, another major community in the St. John Valley region, had 261 votes by the early afternoon, according to Town Clerk Nathalie Morneault.
Morneault said this year’s turnout is about average compared to previous years, and voters have been steadily showing up. Instead of one singular issue bringing voters out, Morneault said it seemed that residents in general are becoming more engaged with what is happening in their community.
Madawaska’s ballot includes a question about authorizing a $9.5 million school budget that voters recently approved. Four candidates in Madawaska are also running for two seats on the town’s select board – Habib H. Barber, Jenney M. Dionne, Douglas P. Morneault, and Michael J. Williams.
This story was updated to include turnout information from a poll worker.
