Four House candidates in Maine delegation

MINNEAPOLIS -- Julie O’Brien, executive director of the Maine Republican Party, hopes to return the Maine House where she previously served from 1996 to 2004.

O’Brien (R-Augusta) said she decided to run when incumbent Rep. Kim Silsby (D-Augusta) decided to drop out of the race. O’Brien faces Anna Blodgett (D-Augusta).

She said she is running because she wants to improve accountability in government by examining which programs work and which ones don’t – and trimming the fat.

She also wants to find solutions to social issues such as substance abuse and mental health. “I don’t feel that continuing to throw money at the problem is the answer,” she said.

Because of the experience she’s gained in the party since leaving the House, “I think now I can be more effective than any other time,” she said.

O’Brien said she will likely not continue as executive director of the party. A new chairman will be elected in December, and that person will bring in his or her own staff, she said.

There are three other House candidates in the delegation. Zach Smith, who is running in District 7, Dale Crafts in District 104 and Andre Cushing in District 39.

Cushing (R-Hampden) said he is concerned about how the current Legislature is handling the state’s money. The state is trying to do too much for too many, he said. Cushing faces

“Mainers tend to be a pretty hardy lot, they take care of themselves,” Cushing said. Like McGeiver, “Give them a roll of duct tape and wire and they can make it work.”

Cushing said he wants to find efficiencies in education and transportation programs, and look at public/private partnerships in other areas of the state, and work with both sides of the aisle to do so.