SACO — Political newcomers Democrat Margaret “Maggie” O’Neil and Republican Mark Bedell are vying for the State House District 15 seat, which covers part of Saco.

Bedell, 50, has worked in theater, film and television since 1985 as a writer, director, producer, stunt coordinator and effects coordinator. He has worked in Maine and all over the world.

O’Neil, 27, works in the hospitality industry and is a former state park ranger. She has a degree in classics and history from Dalhousie University. She was a delegate to the state Democratic convention in 2008, and an alternate in 2016.

“I have what it takes to serve our district, and along with the handful of representatives under the age of 30, I will bring a fresh and necessary perspective to state policy outcomes,” said O’Neil. “I am a thoughtful listener and a fair-minded collaborator who can bring our district’s concerns to Augusta, navigate policy issues, and bring information home.”

Bedell said he was involved in the Ross Perot campaign in 1992 and 1996, and with Libertarian candidate Harry Browne’s campaign in 2000.

“I decided that my very practical experience in a variety of management positions might be just what Augusta needs,” he said.

Bedell said he believes conservatives are the silent majority in Saco. “My plan is to represent the silent majority, folks who rarely get the chance to speak up because they are too busy working,” he said.

O’Neil said if elected, she will make it a priority to protect the state’s natural environment while encouraging responsible growth of outdoor recreation, tourism, forestry, fishing and agriculture.

“Maine’s natural resources are our greatest asset both as an economic driver and for our quality of life,” she said.

Bedell said he will vote “no” on all five state ballot questions in November. Initially, he was in favor of questions one and five, he said, “but I researched them heavily and found there to be a whole lot of ‘devil’ in those details.”

Bedell said since he’s been a candidate, he’s spent a lot of time reading and researching bills.

“I’m a writer. To me, these bills are terribly written,” said Bedell. He said if elected, he would do his best to see that “bills are written in plain English, say what they mean to say and not one word more.”

O’Neil said a strong public education system is crucial to facilitating the success of the next generation.

“I will work to increase access to higher education by continuing to invest in our community college system and state universities, and working to address the issue of student debt,” said O’Neil. “With massive investment on the drawing board, Saco schools are currently at a critical juncture. In Augusta, I will focus on maximizing any potential state funding to reduce any impact on Saco property taxpayers.”

Bedell said Maine needs more and better jobs, and if elected, he would like to help make Maine more business-friendly.

“Yes, I’m aware that our unemployment rate is supposedly low, but it does not factor in the record high numbers of Mainers on one form or another of welfare,” he said. “We need to find jobs for as many of them as we can. The way to do that is to attract businesses to Maine with lower tax rates and lower energy costs.”

“It is better (and more lucrative) to have a lower percentage of a lot of businesses than to have a higher percentage of a dwindling few businesses. If we make it cost effective for businesses to be here … they will come. Then Maine can be ‘the way life should be’ again,” he added.

O’Neil said many constituents she’s spoken to have articulated their frustration with leadership and the tone of “veto politics” in Augusta.

“Entering the last two years of the current administration, this is a critical phase in which we must transition Maine government from stalemate to functionality,” she said. “When the Legislature opens for business next January, one of our prevailing motivations will be restoring state government’s capacity to be effective and truly work for the people of our state.”

O’Neil said if elected, she will focus on a longterm vision for the state’s economy.

“Attracting and retaining skilled and innovative young people is a cornerstone of the next economy. It will both enable the middle class to thrive and help an aging population benefit from tax dollars of young workers, homebuyers, and investors,” said O’Neil. “I believe this happens in a variety of ways, including keeping state tuition affordable, maintaining existing tax credits on student loans, encouraging first-time home ownership, and creating and maintaining competitive wages.”

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.