Local small business owner Alan “Buzz” Pinkham (R) is seeking to fill the seat currently held by District 51 Maine Representative Jon McKane in the November 6 election.

McKane will complete his fourth term in office this year; because of term limits being four 2-year terms, McKane is termed out and is unable to seek another term. Pinkham wants to pick-up the torch for the Republican Party. However, before he can do that, he must defeat his challenger Mick Devin (D).

“I am not looking to change my career and become a politician; I don’t think of myself as a politician. I am what I am, and what you see is what you get,” Pinkham said.

Pinkham is the owner of Pinkham’s Plantation in Damariscotta and the co-founder and president of the Pumpkinfest and Regatta. He said he relates to people who are having problems making ends meet.  

“Being a small business owner, I know how difficult times are, because I have been there,” he said.

When he was asked why he decided to run for public office, he said, “You can only throw your tennis shoes at the television so many times before you realize you maybe need to do something. If you are not willing to do something about a problem, then keep your sneakers laced up.

“I decided to run for office and bring a common sense approach as a small business owner’s perspective to all the challenges we face today.”

Partisan government

“A lot of what we are seeing is national partisan government not solving the problems facing our country. This is the most important election of our times,” he said. “We need to have leadership in the state as well as nationally.”

Pinkham said the Republican and Democratic parties must work together for the good of the state and the country. “It is not to say that all good ideas can come from a single party.”

“We need to have a cooperative attitude, built on consensus and not on conflict,” he said.

Jobs and economy

“Uncertainty is never a good thing,” Pinkham said.  “There is a lot of uncertainty with the upcoming Presidential election.” He said he is hopeful that things will change after the election.

He explained that currently people are struggling to make ends meet, with the cost of fuel oil, food, gasoline increasing, and their paychecks decreasing.

“The middle class, at the end of the week, are finding that their paycheck is not enough to pay the bills,” Pinkham said.  His goal will be to work with the people to foster economic growth and create jobs opportunities for the Midcoast area if elected.

About the candidate

Pinkham is a native of Damariscotta. He and his wife Vicki have four children. He is a Maine licensed arborist and a certified landscape professional, with a bachelor of science degree in plant and soil science. He is a member of the Damariscotta Planning Advisory Committee.