SACO — Independent candidate Jacob Johnston is throwing his hat in the ring for the District 14 state representative seat.

Johnston will be vying in November against Democrat Donna Bailey and Republican Todd Hutchins to fill a seat being vacated by Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, who is running for senator in District 31.

District 14 covers part of Saco.

Johnston, 34, comes from a political family. His father is a former Saco mayor, his brother is a city councilor and his mother is a school board member.

Johnston and his brother Nathan own Up & Up, a cocktail lounge on Main Street. Jacob graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in communications.

Johnston said the State House needs people who are not beholden to political parties, but instead to the people in the community and the greater good. His platform includes the following positions:

• Many young people are struggling due to high college debt and the increase in the cost of rent.

• Technological disruption is constantly changing the workforce.

• He’d like to see an increase in state revenue sharing to the local municipalities, noting that the state hasn’t funded education at the amount voted in by Maine residents in a statewide initiative.

• The state needs to utilize every resource possible to fight the heroin epidemic and save lives.

• He’d like to see automatic voter registration in Maine to increase the number of voters.

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