Two small-business owners are vying for the Republican nomination to challenge an incumbent Democrat for the House District 79 seat.

The winner of the June 12 primary will face Rep. Sharon Treat, D-Hallowell, in November.

William Guerrette III and Ryan Wheaton, both of West Gardiner, are campaigning for the seat that serves Farmingdale, Hallowell and West Gardiner.

Wheaton, 34, owns Maine-ly Inks, an E-commerce company, and teaches business at the Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta. He has nearly 20 years of experience in business, sales and financial management.

Guerrette, 28, manages Sun Tan City, a retail chain in Augusta that has grown from one to 18 retail locations in Maine and New Hampshire and employs more than 100 people.

Both men said job creation and the economy are key issues in this year’s election and their own race.

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“I’ve worked in the real economy and helped run a small family business here in Augusta for the last five years,” Guerrette said. “Maine isn’t competitive. If we’re going to become competitive we need to understand what makes business owners tick and what the incentives are for them to hire people.”

Wheaton, who earned master’s degrees in business from Husson College and in education from Thomas College, said the state is moving in the right direction with the economy, but more work needs to be done.

“The economy continues to be the predominant major issue that our state has yet to solve,” Wheaton said. “We need to continue electing Mainers who will make the economy their first and foremost priority.”

Guerrette, who studied business management at Brigham Young University, said the state must ease the tax burden and lower the amount of regulations so Maine can become more prosperous. He said friends he grew up with have had to leave the state to find decent paying jobs.

Guerrette and Wheaton said education is another concern. Guerrette said schools should provide more accountability and be more competitive.

Wheaton said voters also want accountability in the Legislature and want a representative who is willing to be accountable.

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They both said Maine must reduce spending, that in many cases, is well above national averages. Guerrette said wasteful spending has placed a large burden on Maine taxpayers and it must stop if Maine is to be competitive and attract jobs.

“Our state unfortunately continues to be near the bottom of nationally

ranked areas, one of such listing us as one of the worst places for new and existing businesses,” Wheaton said. “Our elected (officials) need to continue to be proactive by sitting down and listening to Maine small businesses to get to the root of the problems that prohibit investing in local businesses.”

Mechele Cooper — 621-5663

mcooper@centralmaine.com


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