John Martin

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.

State Sen. John Martin has stayed in one of two legislative seats for more than 40 years.

The thing that has kept him from seeking higher office is the same thing that drives many opponents and neighbors to seek a legislative seat to begin with.

They have no intention of leaving Aroostook County – known by most Mainers simply as “The County.”

PolitickerME made the drive to The County last weekend for the Potato Blossoming Festival, where I was able to meet up with a myriad of politicians and candidates who talked about life and campaigns in the potato country.

Four hours away from Augusta and one hour away from the tip of I-95 in Houlton, over the rolling hills and through the potato fields, Democrats and Republicans gathered in Fort Fairfield for the festival, which – in an election year – is one of the summer’s biggest political events.

Legislative leaders and local politicians and candidates gathered in a cramped community center to dine on boiled potatoes and steak. Democrats opened a regional office in Presque Isle. They all gathered again to march in a parade that Saturday.

The County is hometown to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who faces a tough race this year. Don’t miss our story about her hometown of Caribou, and her family business.

It is also the location of two state Senate races with the potential to be very competitive.

The biggest political event in Maine Friday night took place four hours from Augusta, in a community center with folding furniture crammed tightly together, potato sacks lining the walls, and high school beauty queens serving up salad and ice cream.

The Potato Festival’s Industry Dinner in Fort Fairfield was the place to be for the who’s who in Maine politics. To give some flavor of the event, below is a video of county resident Jeramiah Donovan singing about potato picking season.

Ok, now I am interested in the People's Veto, and I have Senator John Martin to thank.

In a response to the Fed Up with Taxes Coalition, the "good" Senator from Aroostook issued a press release on Wednesday afternoon that went after Dana Connors, the President of the Maine Chamber of Commerce. From the release:

AUGUSTA-Assistant Senate Majority Leader John L. Martin, D-Aroostook County, today called on the Maine State Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors to resign from the "Fed Up Taxes" coalition, who are trying to eliminate health care access for 18,000 working Maine families and kids.....

.... Mr. Connors has joined a powerful coalition of special interests funded by out-of-state beer and soda corporations who are intent on eliminating a key part of the health plan's funding source, which comes from an increase in the excise tax on high-volume out-of-state beer corporations and syrup used by soda companies. The coalition so far has taken $700,000 from out-of-state corporations like Coca Cola and Pepsi to hire a California-based company to collect signatures.

The Kennebec Journal wrote an editorial today criticizing Democrats in the Legislature for adding in new beer and wine taxes late at night without a public hearing.

Tuesday night, lawmakers approved a $0.54 per gallon tax on beer, $0.65 per gallon tax on wine, $0.42 per gallon tax on soda to pay for the hurting Dirigo health care program. Click here for the KJ’s coverage.

The editorial stated: “There may very well have been strong arguments to be made about the need for sin taxes…. But sadly, those arguments were never made in a public forum. The public couldn't respond to the proposal. And the result was a last-minute tax increase foisted on Maine consumers.”

At the end of the editorial, they suggested that a taxpayer rebellion could be on the way.

Maine will not be participating in the National Popular Vote interstate compact.

The Senate had passed the bill by one vote last week. The initiative, sponsored by Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, sought to commit Maine’s four electorates to the winner of the national popular vote in presidential elections -- but only when enough states elected to participate to make up a majority of the Electoral College.

Monday the House rejected the bill without taking a roll call. It was sent back to the Senate, where they also voted to indefinitely postpone it.

WGME TV had a story regarding Senator Martin’s (D-Aroostook) truck. 

UPDATED Apr. 2 at 9:30 p.m. with more details on the debate

The state Senate passed a bill Wednesday allowing Maine to participate in the National Popular Vote interstate compact. The bill will next go before the House for consideration.  read more »

There was an interesting exchange between Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, and Sen. Carol Weston, R-Montville, over what happened late Wednesday night when the Appropriations Committee could not agree on the final details of the budget.

Senator Martin offered an amendment to the budget late last night (Thursday) that would essentially eliminate OPEGA and transfer a few of the staff and some resources to another office in the Legislature.