BIDDEFORD — State Rep. Ryan Fecteau, a Democrat from Biddeford, has officially registered with the Maine Ethics Commission to seek a third term in the Maine House of Representatives. 

Fecteau was first elected to represent Biddeford’s District 11 in 2014 at the age of 22. He is currently the youngest openly gay state legislator in the United States and one of the youngest chairpersons of a legislative committee in Maine’s history, leading the Maine House’s Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research, and Economic Development.

“I am fortunate to represent my hometown. Biddeford’s roaring textile mills attracted my memere and pepere here from Quebec many years ago,” Fecteau said. “The textile operation is gone. That’s a given. We need legislators who are steadfast in advancing legislation to advance Maine’s economy and train tomorrow’s workforce.”

According to Fecteau, he will be fighting for a bill in the upcoming legislative session to advance a $40 million bond to upgrade equipment and make capital improvements at Maine’s career and technical education (CTE) centers. 

He said that there has not been a bond since 1998 to support CTE schools.

“We know not everyone will obtain a four year liberal arts degree and I believe that’s absolutely fine,” Fecteau said. “We need plumbers, electricians, chefs, nurses, caretakers, loggers, welders, and so much more. CTE schools like the one in Biddeford are critical to the future of our workforce. These are good paying jobs. An investment in upgrading these schools is long overdue.”

In his first term in office, Fecteau sponsored a bill to fund a first-of-its-kind co-working space grant program for start-up businesses. new entrepreneurs and remote workers. He’s currently sponsoring another bill to refund the grant program after it was met with high demand and all funds were used.

“I like to think outside the box. Folks in Biddeford are not looking for someone to peddle the same, old, stale ideas,” adds Rep. Fecteau. “We need new ideas about how to advance our economy and ensure our seniors enjoy affordable housing and healthcare.”

Besides supporting the CTE, Fecteau said if he’s successful in a bid for a third term in the Maine House, he’ll be a staunch supporter of affordable senior housing.

“It appears unlikely Gov. LePage will release the voter approved senior housing bond this year and I hope if re-elected we can see this to the finish line,” he said. “Affordable senior housing is hard to come by. We have an enormous need in this state. Wait lists are too long and our seniors deserve better treatment. I’m looking forward to issuing the bond.”

During his travels around Biddeford and discussions with his constituents, Fecteau said one significant issue is on the minds of voters regarding the future.

“I hear about property taxes frequently. I am proud that the most recent budget increased the homestead exemption to alleviate property tax burdens, but there is work left here,” Fecteau said. “Believe it or not, I also hear about struggles to find tradespeople to do work in homes. In fact, I think this was the second most mentioned item when I knocked doors in 2016.”

He said his motivation to seek a third term as a state representative remains the same as when he first ran for office.

“I ran for the first time in 2014, because I love this city and this state. I could not sit on the sidelines while young people left the state for greener pastures and programs intended to help seniors crumbled or grew more difficult to fund,” Fecteau said. “I believe strongly that issues impacting young people are not mutually exclusive to those affecting seniors. If we do not grow our population, our tax base shrinks and programs that help our seniors become strained via budget cuts. We’re all in this together and at the end of the day, the partisan fights will subside out of necessity. Politics have to adapt for survival. Partisanship is unsustainable.”

—  Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com