A Wales man who has been active politically for more than a decade and a Litchfield woman who two years ago came within a handful of votes of winning a state office are vying to represent House District 82.
Rachel Sukeforth, 29, has never held an elective office, but in November 2012 she lost to incumbent Rep. Melvin Newendyke, R-Litchfield, by just four votes. Sukeforth, a project manager at Woods End Laboratories in Mount Vernon, vowed to run again.
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NAME: Rachel Sukeforth
AGE: 29
TOWN: Litchfield
PARTY: Democratic
PROFESSION: project manager, Woods End Laboratories, Mount Vernon
EDUCATION: bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: candidate for state representative in 2012. Lost by four votes.
NAME: Randall Greenwood
AGE: 41
TOWN: Wales
PARTY: Republican
PROFESSION: small-business manager
EDUCATION: Oak Hill High School, 1991; bachelor’s degree in business management/leadership and organizational studies from University of Southern Maine
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: chairman of the Androscoggin County Commissioners; Wales selectman; Androscoggin County budget committee; town meeting moderator; Wales budget committee; Wales planning and appeals boards
Her opponent this time will be 41-year-old Randall Greenwood, of Wales. A manager at a payroll company, Greenwood has held one office or another for more than a decade, including serving a number of years as a Wales selectman and as the current chairman of the Androscoggin County Commissioners. Greenwood also has served on the Wales budget committee as well as its planning and appeals boards and worked with the Androscoggin County budget committee as well as serving as town meeting moderator.
Sukeforth and Greenwood both said they hope to develop and support legislation aimed at promoting job growth. Sukeforth, who had difficulty finding employment after graduating from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, said people she talks to are worried about their work and paying their heating and food bills as well as their property taxes.
“They’re worried about money going out,” Sukeforth said.
She said promoting the creation of higher-paying jobs is key to the state increasing its revenue generation.
“If I make more money, I’m going to pay more in taxes,” Sukeforth said.
Greenwood, however, believes promoting job growth and stimulating the economy include lowering taxes.
“I believe we can have growth and creation through lower taxes,” he said.
Greenwood, a former small-business owner, said job growth not only will require easing the tax burden, but also improving the process entrepreneurs must undergo to earn state approval to launch or grow their businesses.
“A lot of small-business people get turned off at growing their business because of burdensome regulations,” Greenwood said. “The governor has done a good job of streamlining the permitting process. We need more of that. That will help grow the Maine economy.”
Sukeforth said business owners are also concerned about the high cost of unemployment and worker’s compensation insurance. She said lawmakers must look for ways to help business owners overcome those challenges and hire more people.
“I don’t have specific ideas,” she said. “I know there are a lot of people up there with experience that would love to help me co-sponsor bills.”
Greenwood said reform must force the state to spend less and to spend more efficiently. Part of that goal can be achieved through continued welfare reform. Greenwood said people he talks to in his district are concerned about welfare abuse. He said he would launch and support efforts to continue reform.
“I intend to do as much welfare reform as humanly possible,” Greenwood said, adding he would work to make sure the state provides a safety net for those who need help. “It’s a temporary solution to a temporary problem.”
He praised efforts by Gov. Paul LePage to beef up the state’s fraud investigative force with professional law enforcement.
“Prior to this governor, we didn’t have that,” Greenwood said. “We had agents, but they were desk people. Now we have investigators.”
Sukeforth said she hopes to act as a conduit for people in her district to make the changes they want to make.
“A lot of people I talk to are older and have more experience,” she said. “They’ve been thinking about this longer than I have.”
Greenwood said he has developed during his years in public service a reputation among his peers for common sense, responsibility and reliability.
“I believe the experience I’ve gained in that process will benefit the district that I hope to represent in Augusta,” Greenwood said. “I’m fair, and I evaluate all sides before making a decision.”
Craig Crosby — 621-5642
Twitter: @CraigCrosby4
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