Potatoes and politics: Senate District 35

Other stories in this series:

A look at the candidates and issues in Northern Maine; Senate District 35; Senate District 34; Two College Republicans; Adam Cote spotting;  Splitting the electoral votes

Martin has held the northernmost Senate seat for eight years. Termed out, he is running for the corresponding House seat. He has held one of these two seats for about 40 years.

Current Rep. Troy Jackson, D-Fort Kent, is termed out of the House, and is running for Martin’s seat.

At first glance, it seems safe for the Democrats. Not so fast, say the Republicans. This district has become a targeted one for them.

Enter Daniel Deveau, R-Cyr Plantation, who – according to Republican leaders, is the perfect candidate for the seat. He’s a French potato farmer with a thick accent.

Deveau said this will be the first time in recent memory that the Democrats will be challenged in his district.

“He’s everything the district represents,” said Senate Republican leader Carol Weston, R-Montville.

Deveau said his family has been in The County since 1860.

“It’s simple,” Deveau said of why he is running. “I’m looking for fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and incentives for our businesses to bring back rural Maine to the citizens of Maine.”

At the potato blossoming parade, he surrounded himself with kids, his own and friends of the family. He marched in front of a Mr. Potatohead float with Sen. Roger Sherman, R-Houlton, who is up for reelection in S.D. 34.

Jackson hopes to fend him off. He said the Democrats asked him to run, and “I thought I could do more for the area as a Senator.”

Jackson said he wants to continue to work on the issue of rising health care costs – it’s one of the reasons he first ran eight years ago, he said.

Jackson is the House Chairman of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. Last session, he sponsored a number of bills regarding wildlife and Maine’s warden service.