FARMINGTON – As Lance Harvell of Farmington emerged as the republican candidate for the District 89 seat after he was nominated last night during a Franklin County Republican Committee caucus, two democratic challengers have announced they want the job too.
The District 89 seat was vacated by Rep. Janet Mills (D – Farmington) after she was elected attorney general by the state Legislature on Dec. 4. District 89 represents the towns of Farmington and Industry. A special election to fill the House District 89 vacancy will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at polling places at the Farmington Community Center and the Industry Town Office.
The democratic candidate will be chosen at a caucus held 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4 at UMF’s Olsen Student Center in the North Dining Hall.
Two Farmington residents, Dennis Haszko and Jeremy Smith, have announced they are seeking the democratic nomination.
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Haszko operates a private patent practice in Augusta. He holds a bachelor degree in electrical engineering and a law degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Center in New Hampshire. Haszko and his family moved back to Maine in 2006 after living in Ontario for six years following the birth of their first son. He and his wife, Ruth Haszko, and their two children now live in Farmington.
Haszko says that he’s interested in the application of “smart governing” where appropriate, and decreasing the amount of intervention when it is not. For instance, he is interested in helping small businesses get up and running.
“We need to help create homegrown businesses and keep them here,” he said, noting that through his patent work he often was able to meet and talk with new small business owners. One possibility, Haszko believes, is to give some of these new businesses tax exemptions for their first few critical years.
“That’s how we make things grow,” he said.
Haszko is also interested in the possibility of infrastructural improvements to the state’s broadband Internet capability and in the development of a “East-West” highway, possibly as a public works project.
“I love Maine,” he said. “I love the quality of life and the people. I love the lakes in the summer and the snow in the winter.”
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Jeremy Smith is a high school art teacher at Maranacook Community School in Readfield. A Maine native and outdoors enthusiast, Smith has lived in Maine much of his life except for the few years he spent in Colorado where he earned his teaching degree.
“As much as I enjoyed Colorado, my love of Maine brought me home to the Farmington area where I have resided for the past five years with my immediate family close by,” Smith said.
His Maine family roots is the reason he is running for a seat in the state House.
“As a young child, I was inspired by grandfather, Shelton C. Noyes, Esq. (a lawyer, judge, and Senate majority leader of the 100th Legislature) to be engaged in political discussions so as to develop strategies for improving the quality of life and economic opportunities for residents of Franklin County. Despite the lack of economic opportunity offered me by my home state, I strove to come home where I knew the people, the values, and the way of life which I’ve always loved and respected,” he said, and added, “I’m so glad to be home.”
The biggest issues facing this area, he said, is the “business climate and the precarious position of how we shepherd the natural resources in the region and create also a favorable setting for business and a shifting economy. Sitting in the midst of a financial crisis is nerve-wracking and also painful, as there will be many tough choices to make.
“We will need to utilize our abilities to help merge two economies in this region, the industrial and service sectors, and add the crucially important sector: technology. As we become more aware of how our different lifestyles and needs impact the current situation, we as citizens, must embrace the ties that bind us and the new technology. I ask you for your vote and your support for my initiative to catch the future,” Smith said.
Registered democrats who live in Farmington or Industry are eligible to vote at the caucus. People will be able to register to vote and be enrolled in the Democratic Party prior to the caucus vote. Nominees will each make a short speech, and then supporters can make brief statements. Voting will take place by secret ballot. Ballots will be counted immediately, and a winner will be declared.
