District 24 State Senate Republican candidate Matthew Brackley and Democrat Incumbent Sen. Eloise Vitelli are both pushing clean energy and lower overall costs for Mainers.

Vitelli has held her Senate seat since 2016. The seat, which has been redistricted this year, represents Bath and the towns of Arrowsic, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Richmond, Dresden and Georgetown.

Here is what the candidates told the Times Record:

Eloise Vitelli

Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic Contributed photo.

Tell the voters about yourself.

I have lived in Arrowsic for 40-plus years with my husband; our two sons attended local schools. I started my career as a Head Start teacher and after 38 years, retired from New Ventures Maine, a statewide organization that helps individuals find good jobs, go back to school or start a small business. I served on the local school board, the Mid Coast Economic Development District, and board of Kennebec Estuary Land Trust.

Why are you running for this seat?

I believe everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy, productive life and that by working together we can ensure Maine is a place where people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs can find meaningful work, raise a family, and contribute to our communities. We made great progress last session helping Maine people come through the worst of the pandemic: expanding access to health care, growing the raining day fund to the highest it has ever been, providing free meals to all school kids, raising minimum teacher salaries – but there is more to be done. I have demonstrated I can work with others to solve everyday problems for working Mainers.

What are the biggest challenges or concerns facing your district in the coming term?

We need to continue to focus on our people and our economy. We need to ensure our older residents can afford to live comfortably in their homes; attract and keep a younger, skilled workforce by making housing available and affordable, providing quality childcare and public education; we need high-speed internet access, and ensure our infrastructure – water, sewer, roads and bridges, heat and lights – are up to the challenges posed by climate change.

What are your top priorities if re-elected?

I will continue to work with my colleagues on housing issues; workforce training, including expanding opportunities for careers in trades, technical fields, and health professions, and college affordability; access to affordable and quality health care; strengthening the electric grid and ensuring that the benefits and burdens of the transition to cleaner energy are fairly born by all. Helping communities and businesses, and our traditional industries, farming, fishing, forestry and tourism, adapt to climate change and other environmental threats, will continue to be priorities.

Matthew Brackley

AUGUSTA, ME – JANUARY 26: Republican candidate for Senate District 24 Matt Brackley during the Maine Comeback Tour kickoff event Wednesday January 26, 2022 Senator Inn and Spa in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Tell the voters about yourself.

Matt lives in West Bath with his wife, Ellen and three children, Anthony, Cindy and Ava. He is a licensed master electrician. He owns and operates Brackley Electric, Inc. which employs over 50 full-time employees. He is a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy and also studied business management at the University of Maine. Matt enjoys building his business, working on his home, cooking and entertaining with his family, reading, swimming, hiking, hunting and fishing. He is a Christian and an active member of New City Church in Bath. He enjoys the free exchange of ideas through respectful and thoughtful conversation.

Why are you running for this seat?

Matt was inspired to run for the State Senate as he witnessed the suffering in his community from the targeted deterioration of individual freedoms in favor of government suppression and control. He firmly believes that the purpose of government is to serve, defend and support its citizens. Instead, we are seeing a system of bloated, inefficient government that is suppressing free speech, devaluing our currency, over-taxing its citizens and driving a narrative of increased dependence on the government.

What are the biggest challenges or concerns facing your town/district in the coming term?

Rising costs of electricity, heating and groceries fueled by government spending and regulations. Increasing crime and the raging drug epidemic. Woke sexual indoctrination of our children. Government threats to eliminate the lobster fishing industry.

What are your top priorities if elected?

Lower the cost of living for Maine families by reducing taxes and out-of-control government spending. Implement solutions for effective, efficient, and affordable energy production and distribution. Eliminate unnecessary government regulations that are suffocating small businesses and entrepreneurs. Restore respect to local law enforcement and provide them with the tools and resources required to restore law and order and end the drug epidemic. Reward hard work and discourage people from relying on welfare as a way of life. Remove woke sexual indoctrination from our education system.