Jackson and O'Neil vie for seat in District 100

Photo:

Colin O'Neil (D-Oxford)

Photo:

Roger Jackson (R-Oxford) 

OXFORD HILLS — Roger Jackson (R-Oxford) and Colin O'Neil (D-Oxford) are contesting an open state house seat in District 100, representing Oxford, Otisfield and Mechanic Falls.

O'Neil ran against Rep. Jim Hamper (R-Oxford) for the seat in 2010.

The candidate recently graduated from University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor's degree in political science and is general manager of The Big Adventure Center in Bethel.

O'Neil was a Mitchell Scholar in 2011 and interned for Representative Chellie Pingree and Senator Susan Collins.

O'Neil says he wants his campaign to inspire people to participate in the political process. He identifies education and energy policy as important issues for him.

Jackson is a three-term Oxford selectman and has served as chairman of the town budget committee, president of the Maine Rural Letter Carriers Association and member of the Maine Maple Industry Task Force.

A combat veteran, Jackson served in the U.S. Army for 22 years and worked as a mail carrier in Buckfield until retiring in 2000. He owns Jackson's Sugarhouse in Oxford.

Jackson says his knowledge and experience will make him an effective leader in the state house. He identifies the economy and energy policy as the issues he thinks are most important.

With two weeks left until the November 6 election, we asked both candidates about  their stance on important issues facing the area.

Economy

Jackson says reducing burdensome regulations is necessary to help businesses grow and put people back to work. He points to Oxford Casino as an example of a business that has strengthened the local economy.

Fuel prices also need to be addressed, Jackson says. He believes high energy costs are placing a burden on families in the area.

O'Neil agrees high energy costs are hurting small businesses and thinks the state's energy policy needs to be examined.

Economic growth also depends on a stable revenue policy, O'Neil says –  business owners should be able to predict how much their taxes will be from year to year.

Social programs

O'Neil says that preserving social programs is a top issue for people he's met while campaigning.

He thinks that more budget cuts at DHHS will hurt people who most need the programs and opposes what he calls a "slash and burn" approach to social programs by the LePage administration.

Jackson says DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew has been doing an excellent job at the department and as a representative he would do everything to support her work.

Fraud and abuse in the system needs to be addressed, Jackson says, but is not as serious as it could be.

Education

Both candidates say the state should emphasise training and vocational education.

Jackson says the middle class is built on people employed in the trades. He agrees the state should do more to support training programs to help people get back to work and start new businesses.

O'Neil, an OHCHS graduate, says the school's mix of vocational and academic education should be a model for the state.

Too much emphasis is placed on standardized testing, O'Neil says –  teachers should be given more flexibility in the classroom.