Running for representative

To the Editor:

My name is Timothy Turner and I am running for the State House of Representatives, Dist. 94. This includes the towns of South Paris, Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner.

I currently live in Buckfield but was born and raised in South Paris. After graduating from Oxford Hills High School in '81 I was employed at Maine Apple Growers in Buckfield. Also, while working there I met my wife, Wendy.

It's been almost 28 years since we were married. Just so happens my parents also met while they worked there. Together we raised four children and now have eight grandchildren.

From the fall of 1981 until the fall of 2003 I coached football at Oxford Hills and Buckfield High school at all levels.

I enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves. For six years I was a part of the Military Police unit located in Bridgton.

In 1986 I entered the State Police Academy. I retired after serving for 25 years. During that time I was a rural patrol Trooper. I also specialized in the K-9 team and crash reconstruction. Later I transferred into Troop K, the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit. Within my patrol area are the four towns I am again looking to serve and protect.

As I write this I realize I've served these communities in one form or another all of my adult life.

The decision to run was a difficult one. I supported Rep. Terry Hayes in her 2006 and 2008 campaigns.

I know her to be a good person with the best interest of her constituents at heart.

In the 2008 election the term Progressivism came back into the political arena. While I haven't earned a college degree, I have spent most of my life reading history and closely following worldwide and local events. It was because of this that I realized that the person Rep. Hayes is now is someone that believes in a bigger government and over-taxing the people to run those government programs.

I threw myself into studying Progressivism and came to the conclusion that I could never support this form of government. In it's most basic form, a Progressive government's ability to help it's people requires it's power to be greater than the civil liberty's and freedoms of it's citizens. There is no other way in which Progressivism can exist. Our founding fathers understood this fact about this style of government, that is why they wrote the Constitution the way they did. Putting the power in the hands of the people.

Please don't get me wrong, I don't believe for a second that Rep. Hayes (or President Obama) would use this power for anything but to help the people. The problem is that these very same powers could be legally used to do great harm to the people.

On July 16th, 1983 as a soldier and August 17th, 1986 as a State Trooper, I swore to protect this country and it's people from this very thing. Now I am ready to take that oath for the third time.

I can't predict the issues that will arise if I'm elected or how I will vote on them. I do guarantee I will take into account three things:

1. The Constitution of the United States.

2. the Constitution of the state of Maine.

3. I will always remember I'm your representative. Which by definition and my firm belief means, my opinion means nothing in the blinding light of the will of the people I represent. So it is vital that all constituents stay active and keep all their elected officials informed.

I would like to thank all of you for reading this. Due to a personal crisis in our lives, time has been limited to participate in my own campaign. On the other hand I am completely available to take your calls, meet with you personally or as a group. I expect and encourage any questions from all of you.

Timothy Turner

Buckfield