They were both wrestlers at Sanford High School and both were inducted into the Maine Wrestling Hall of Fame, and now, John Tuttle of Sanford and David Woodsome of Waterboro are in a headlock to represent Maine Senate District 33. The district encompasses Sanford and Waterboro and the upcountry towns of Cornish, Limerick, Newfield, Parsonsfield and Shapleigh. Tuttle is the incumbent Democrat, and says he’s making this his last campaign. Woodsome, a Republican, is the challenger.

”¢ Tuttle, 63, is married and has an adult daughter. An EMT, he earned a master’s degree in public administration and finance some years ago, and been a member of the Maine Legislature, either as a representative or senator, for 28 years.

He points to a bill he sponsored that created a technical program in Sanford ”“ an offshoot of York County Community College ”“ to train students for machine tool jobs. He said Maine should invest in small companies and family businesses, and as they expand, they’ll hire more people. Tuttle said over his career he’s helped pass six minimum wage increases, and believes he can get Democrats and Repub-licans together to talk about what he called a livable wage in Maine.

Tuttle said he believes revenue sharing should be fully funded, and said it’s been a successful program since its inception in 1972. He said the Legislature has to have input from the municipalities on a tax overhaul and that education should be state funded at 55 percent.

Tuttle said the Legislature passed his bill recognizing the use of Agent Orange while Maine National Guard members trained at Camp Gagetown in Canada, and he’s working with the congressional delegation to have the federal government recognize it too. He said he’s submitted a bill to ensure funeral honors at burials for Maine veterans will continue after a funding cut. He said he’d like to form a legislative committee to examine available programs for eating disorders in Maine.

”¢ Woodsome, 68, recently retired after 35 years of teaching ”“ 29 at Fryeburg Academy and six at Massabesic High School. He hails from a farming family and continues to raise beef cattle. Single, he has two adult daughters. He said he was recruited by the GOP to run for the state Senate, but that he’s an independent thinker.

Woodsome said there isn’t one remedy that cures the diverse economic maladies in the state ”“ there are some counties crying for any jobs they can get, and others, like York County, that need jobs in many sectors, but also need skilled employees because the manufacturing workforce is graying and expected to retire within the next 10 to 15 years.

He said Maine needs to invest in small, homegrown businesses, because they are unlikely to be moved elsewhere or closed by out-of-state ownership. He said community colleges should be training young people for jobs, rather than functioning like a junior college, preparing students for university. He said there are long waiting lists for trades now at community colleges. Woodsome said he’s 100 percent in favor of technical schools like the one to be built in Sanford, and believes local schools should also have some technical programs of their own.

He said he believes revenue sharing needs to be revamped, but in the meantime, he would work to restore it to prior levels.

He believes Maine’s tax system needs an overhaul and that taxes needs to be designed to encourage growth.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.