BIDDEFORD — On Tuesday, a representative from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce made a three-city tour around the state with the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Charles Summers.
Last month, the chamber, which has more than 300,000 members, endorsed Summers, who is also Maine’s secretary of state, in his bid to win the seat being vacated by Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.
Having the chamber’s support in his campaign “is huge,” said Summers. “They don’t just endorse anyone.”
Rob Engstrom, political director for the chamber, accompanied Summers to several Maine businesses including Quirk Cadillac and Chevrolet in Bangor, Simones World Famous Hot Dogs in Lewiston and a final stop at Sterling Rope in Biddeford.
Engstrom came to Maine to show the chamber’s support for Summers and listen to the concerns of business owners.
A vote for Summers “is a vote for free enterprise in Washington,” said Engstrom at the Biddeford company, which makes rope for applications such as fire/rescue.
Having someone in Washington like Summers, who will promote pro-business policies, is important, he said.
According to a chamber poll, most “small business (owners) think the country is on the wrong track,” said Engstrom.
The threat from Washington is more “clear and present” than ever before, he said.
“Washington policies hurt small business,” said Engstrom.
Summers said he could relate to the plight of small business owners, as he once owned a beverage company in Biddeford that he started in the late 1980s.
For small businesses “like Sterling Rope, if we keep government out of the way, they will expand and grow our country,” said the candidate.
“We can’t tax our way out of this recession,” said Summers. The solution is to create policy to allow small businesses to grow and produce more jobs.
Despite the economic downturn, in the past three years Sterling Rope has grown 65 percent and added new employees, said the company’s founder and President Carolyn Brodsky.
Summers said helping businesses like Sterling Rope is the way to keep the country strong.
He faces independent Angus King and Democrat Cynthia Dill in the November election.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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