YORK COUNTY  — Two accomplished politicians are running for Maine’s House District 20 seat, which includes Acton, Lebanon and part of Shapleigh. The seat is currently held by Republican Karen Gerrish of Lebanon.

Democrat Daniel Lauzon of Lebanon, a retired locomotive engineer and former legislative representative for the Locomotive Engineers, ran against Gerrish in 2016. This time he will be up against small business owner, Republican Theodore Kryzak of Acton, who served one year on the Acton School Board, six years as an Acton selectman and five years as chairman.

The candidates were asked if they believe access to guns is a key component in school gun violence incidents and what should be done about it here in Maine.

Kryzak spoke about Maine’s history of responsible gun ownership and public education about weapons.

“We have a long history of responsible gun ownership in Maine and fortunately have had few incidences of school gun violence and mass shootings. We should continue and expand our public education efforts to promote responsible gun ownership, keeping guns and ammunition secure. This public education effort should be like the anti-smoking campaign,” said Kryzak.

Lauzon agreed with Kryzak’s statement that most gun owners are responsible in Maine.

“In rural Maine there’s a culture where gun safety is practiced and understood by most citizens,” said Lauzon.

Both candidates were also asked about the state’s rising health care costs and how it affects the state.

Kryzak pushed for returning to the PL90 plan.

“Return to PL90, the plan Maine started before Obamacare was forced on Maine citizens. Small fees paid monthly by people with health insurance to subsidize those who cannot afford basic health insurance. Reduce insurance mandates. Open the borders to purchase health insurance,” said Kryzak. “Do not force people to pay for health insurance they do not need and will never use.”

Lauzon spoke about the idea of a single-payer system.

“In an ideal world we should have a single-payer system, but, because the insurance industry lobby will fight any attempt on reducing their profitability, we need to figure out a way to still allow the for-profit health care industry and yet make sure Mainers have access to health care,” said Lauzon.

Ultimately, Lauzon intends on instating a top down pay scale plan.

“We are the fourth highest state in the nation in terms of emergency room visits. I have some ideas of a top down pay scale that might be doable by making funds available to top end critical medical procedures. Catastrophic illness can destroy family assets if not protected,” said Lauzon.

The two candidates also expressed their ideas about luring high paying jobs to Maine and convincing young workers to return to the state.

Kryzak believes the state should start pushing students to consider trades.

“Increase emphasis on vocational education. Let’s start offering education for jobs that exist in Maine and pay well. Let’s stop pretending we will ever be Silicon Valley and train more electricians, plumbers and loggers. Encourage small business through entrepreneurship,” said Kryzak.

Lauzon believes that Maine should be marketed as a leader in green energy to lure high paying jobs.

“Maine is well poised to be a leader in energy generation, we have the highest tides in the U.S., we have tremendous biomass renewable fuel, and most importantly we have skilled tradespeople from the paper industry who can use their talents in the renewable energy projects. The maritime industry, especially shipbuilders, are capable of designing, fabricating, and shipping wind turbine systems right here in Maine. Some of the most reliable wind currents are far off shore the Maine coast, which if you stretch it out, we actually have a longer shoreline than California. Funding and maintaining skilled trade education programs as alternative options for higher education is already needed here,” said Lauzon.

Both Kryzak and Lauzon believe they are the right person to represent Acton, Lebanon and part of Shapleigh in Augusta.

Kryzak believes his experience will help if he’s elected to represent House District 20.

“(I have) experience in municipal government in a small town (selectman and school board member.) (I have) experience in running two small businesses, Non-Traditional Special Purpose Private School and a 180-acre working farm. (I have) experience in raising four very successful kids to adulthood. (I have) experience as director of Cadet Programs Maine Wing CAP. Cadet Program Officer of the Year for Maine and Northeast Region 2006, Maine Agriculture Teacher of the Year 2010, USDA White/Reinhardt recipient 2010,” said Kryzak.

Lauzon also thinks his experience could benefit Acton, Lebanon and part of Shapleigh.

“My experiences in successfully getting the federal government to fund and partly fund major transportation projects demonstrate my ability to navigate the myriad of complex funding guidelines. Having developed PTSD mitigation programs for our locomotive engineers and conductors who experience the horror of suicides taken place in front of their railroad trains can be very useful in understanding the realities of CISD and PTSD. I have had six fatalities myself over my 43-year career. We developed a program based on the Boston firefighters union and every time one of our members were veterans, they would always comment that we are doing more for them than the VA (Veterans Administration) ever did. During my early years on the railroad I ran my own tree and landscape construction business; it grew to 38 full time employees,” said Lauzon.

— Staff Writer Sienna Barstow can be contacted at 780-9018 or sbarstow@journaltribune.com