By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

In the very crowded race to become Maine’s next governor, former State Sen. Rick Bennett is hoping to stand out as an Independent candidate who is ready to tackle tough issues with a common-sense approach and a commitment to people rather than any political party.

Bennett, 62, brought his campaign to Biddeford on Saturday, at the height of the city’s annual WinterFest celebration.

So far – according to the Maine Secretary of State’s office – there are seven declared Democratic candidates hoping to win the June primary and 10 Republicans running for their party’s nomination.

Bennett is one of five independents who are hoping to gain support and build a coalition from both sides of the political aisle.

Bennett is the most well-known of the five Independent candidates and leads that field in fundraising, raising nearly $530,000 for his campaign so far. His closest challenger, State Rep. Ed Crockett of Portland, has raised just shy of $10,000 for his campaign.

A former president of the Maine Senate, Bennett has a long history of public service that dates back to the early 1980s. As a teenager, he volunteered on various political campaigns and participated in the YMCA’s Model Legislature program, in which young people attend a three-day conference to learn about how the Legislature works and how ideas become state laws.

Bennett was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, representing the town of Norway in 1990 and was unopposed for a second term.

He didn’t wait long to jump onto the national scene. In 1994, he became the Republican nominee for Congress in Maine’s second district, narrowly losing the general election to John Baldacci, 46-41 percent with two other candidates in the race.

In 1996, Bennett was elected to the Maine State Senate where he later became senate president.

Described as a successful business innovator, Bennett served as chair of Maine’s Republican Party from 2013 to 2017.

Today, he says, Maine needs political leaders who are not focused on political affiliation.

His campaign website paints a picture of a man with a long history of reaching across the political aisle to achieve legislative goals in environmental leadership, consumer protection and campaign finance reform.

Bennett co-sponsored several laws targeting toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” and reforming Maine’s solid waste and recycling practices. He was an outspoken opponent of the “CMP Corridor” project and sought to end foreign ownership of Maine’s electric utilities. He also sponsored legislation to end “predatory practices” by payday lenders.

The candidate enjoys Winterfest

We met with Bennett and his wife, Karen, at the home of Biddeford resident Jason Briggs, a well-known community volunteer and local Republican leader.

Briggs described Bennett as “the real deal,” pointing out that they have known each other for nearly 40 years.

When asked why he is not running as a Republican, Bennett didn’t hesitate with his response. “Our government is broken, and political parties are a big part of the problem,” he said.

Bennett said partisan politics are becoming increasingly divisive in Maine, a rural state that is well-known for its hard-working, down-to-earth populace.

“Both parties have become very strident, focusing more on partisan bickering than the needs of Maine people,” Bennett said.

____________________

“Our government is broken,

and political parties are

a big part of the problem.”

— Rick Bennett

_____________________

When asked what he believes are the top issues facing Maine residents, Bennett pointed to skyrocketing and “outrageous” energy costs, underperforming public schools and a statewide housing crisis.

“These are issues that need and deserve a collaborative approach,” Bennett said. “We’re a small state. We know each other and take care of our neighbors. We need to find a better way forward.”

Bennett – who shared the Maine Senate President’s office with Democrat Mike Michaud when the senate was briefly evenly split – said today too many legislators are afraid to pick up the phone and talk to their peers on the other side of the aisle.

“We cannot afford to see bipartisanship as a weakness,” Bennett said. “The people of Maine have real needs, and they deserve a better approach.”

Bennett received a warm response as he toured Biddeford’s downtown area during the WinterFest celebration.

He spoke briefly with both Mayor Liam LaFountain and City Councilor Jake Pierson, telling them “we’re all in this together” and that local leaders play an important role in Maine’s future.

Bennett said he was “blown away” by the revitalization of the city’s downtown area, including the business incubator concept being used in the city’s former textile mill buildings.

“What’s happening here is really exciting,” Bennett said while touring the Makers Market event in the former Pepperell Mill building.

But Bennett wasn’t the only gubernatorial candidate visiting Biddeford on Saturday. Democrat Dr. Nirav Shah was also touring the Pepperell Mill building on Saturday.

“I think we can both agree that this is a pretty awesome community event,” Bennett told Shah.

“You are absolutely correct about that,” Shah replied with a big smile.

If elected as governor, Bennett said one of his first moves will be to convene a weekly “Legislative Leadership” dinner meeting with legislative leaders from both parties.

“We need to break bread together, and work together to develop meaningful solutions,” Bennett said. “That’s what people want us to do. That’s the Maine tradition.”

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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