My name is Reagan Paul (and yes I was named after President Ronald Reagan). I am a Christian Constitutional Conservative running as a Republican for the Maine House of Representatives for District 37 which includes Winterport, Prospect, Stockton Springs, Searsport, and part of Frankfort. I was born and raised in Maine, am 23 years old, graduated from Liberty University with dual Bachelor Degrees in Christian Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketing/Advertising. I am a small business owner, partner in a telecom consulting company, and am a girls’ varsity basketball head coach for an area Christian school. I am also a new homeowner of a beautiful farm in the river town of Winterport and have a vested interest in the well-being and future of District 37.
In my free time I enjoy exploring the wilderness of Maine or fishing at our family camp on East Grand Lake. I am an avid hiker and kayaker and have hiked all over the state including all of the 4,000 foot and higher mountains in Maine and have climbed Mount Katahdin 7 times. That is why I am so passionate about protecting Maine's natural landscape from being destroyed by the push for inefficient and unreliable green energy projects. No matter what anyone says, it is impossible to expand green energy sources and protect the beauty of our rugged state. I want to protect our scenic mountain ranges from being blasted and forever altered to make room for wind turbines or ruin farmland to make room for solar panels, let alone the noise pollution, wildlife impacts and the many unknowns. What isn't unknown is that solar and wind are unreliable, intermittent, and unnecessarily raises energy prices. Just take a drive out to western Maine to Mount Blue State Park or up north through Lincoln and tell me wind mill turbines do not detract greatly from the natural beauty of the area. Is that what you want for District 37? I sure don't. Solar and wind may be more viable in the future with technological advances to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Plans and funding need to be considered for decommissioning and disposal of current projects. These plans do not currently exist. There is a real cost and a real concern of how to safely dispose of solar panels and wind turbines that exist today which only have a 20-25 year life span, let alone expanding these projects across the state. We have a green renewable energy source that works called hydro, and the cap to limit its output should be lifted.
As a young adult, I am concerned about the future of the Pine Tree State. A suffocated and burdensome business climate combined with excessive taxation and regulation is driving my generation out of Maine. I am a small business owner and come from a family of entrepreneurs and job creators. I understand the government-created struggles that are facing small business owners and know that giving government more money and more power is not the solution. Government meddling in the free market and excessive taxation and regulatory/licensing requirements stifles job growth and decreases motivation for being in business. We need to rely on the invisible hand of the free market, not the invisible fist of the government.
As an owner of a small business myself and from my involvement in my family's small business, I am well aware of the impact that bad policy and playing politics has on real Mainers. Our company employs 60 people providing much needed jobs to the state. Small business accounts for over 50% of our jobs. The arbitrary minimum wage increase, workers comp regulations, unemployment for able-bodied Mainers all contribute to our labor rates rising over 50% during the last 3 years along with a 30% reduction in profitability. It is unsustainable. In addition, I recently became a partner in a telecom consulting company. Our goal is to help businesses save money every month by negotiating better deals with telecommunication providers in the area and find them the best company to fit their needs whether it be for voice, cloud storage, broadband, cyber security, etc. Because of my involvement in this industry, I am aware of the broadband accessibility issues in the State of Maine. Whenever possible, problems should be solved at the local level or in the private sector to be most effective and cost-efficient. We need to elect people who understand that small business owners who have risked everything need to be protected not bartered against.
I am also blessed to be head coach of a girl's varsity basketball team at a local Christian school. It allows me to continue to be involved with my life-long passion of playing basketball and help influence the next generation of women to be strong problem solvers that never give in and never give up in the face of adversity. I have been coaching since I graduated from high school, and I am the youngest coach in the school's history. We have 3 gold balls under our belt and plans for a fourth this coming season.
When it comes to being an elected official, I will respect the Constitution and the limited powers given to representatives. I will vote to contract government and expand personal liberty. My goal is to CONSERVE first principles because there are some things you shouldn't PROGRESS past...like the things that made our country and state great to begin with. My guiding principles are found in the Word of God and because of that, it is my convictions that will guide me. When I swear an oath to uphold the Maine State Constitution and the Federal Constitution followed by “So help me God”, I understand the gravity of that and will honor it with integrity. You may not know me personally, but you can know how I will vote because of my convictions. I will not be swayed or moved by the ever-changing political winds.
If we are serious about restoring our republic and our state, we need to elect people who understand the proper role of government and that it was instituted among men for the sole purpose of securing our inalienable rights. We need to elect people who have a fixed moral compass to guide their decision-making. It is about principles and convictions not political parties and popularity. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, "In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”
Imagine having a representative that believes in having school funding follow the student, small businesses being free to operate without excessive regulation, and reduce taxes on all Mainers. A representative who stands for limited government, personal responsibility, and a state government that is fiscally prudent.
You have the choice to send one to Augusta on November 8th. Elect Reagan Paul.
