Name and address: James Allen Boyle, 25 Dundee Road
Education: B.S. Forest Management, University of Maine. 1981
Political Party: Democrat
Employment: I’ve spent my career owning small businesses that protect the environment. I started out as a forester before starting my first environmental consulting company in 1996. Today, I own and operate Environmental Permitting and Inspection, LLC.
Personal Information: I have a wonderful, blended family with my wife, Sue Durst. We are very fortunate that our four children and four grandchildren all live in Maine.
Political and community experience: I have served as the Senate chair of the Environment and Natural Resource Committee and as a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. In a January 2022 special election, voters elected me to serve in the Maine House where I’m a member of the Environment and Natural Resource Committee. I am a former Board member of the Efficiency Maine Trust and have served on the Board of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, and as President of the Maine Association of Wetland Scientists.
Why are you running for office and how will your experience benefit your constituents?
I’ve lived in Gorham for twelve years. I was elected to the House in January 2022 and the Senate in 2012. I serve on the Environment and Natural Resource Committee, and I was chair of the committee and a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee while in the Senate. I have a good mix of life, small business and legislative experience that allows me to advocate for my neighbors in Gorham.
What are the major issues facing Gorham and how might they be addressed?
The economy and climate change are the biggest issues. As a business owner, I understand what the state can — and can’t – do to help people create jobs and grow their businesses. We need more renewable energy and less fossil fuel. It’s important that state government keep an eye on the bottom line, like every business I’ve run. I will focus on combating increases in property taxes, prescription drugs, and other basics like gasoline, heating oil and groceries.
Name and address: Joseph Edwards Velozo, 39 Harding Bridge Road
Political Party: Republican
Education: Master’s in Digital Forensic Cybersecurity Investigation, University of Maryland University College (2017) Bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems, University of Maine at Augusta (2007) Associate’s in Logistic Management, Community College of the Air Force (2008)
Employment: Automation systems manager of Ion Networking based in Windham. Retired United States Air Force, retired computer science and math teacher Turner Middle School, fire fighter, safety officer for Greene and Turner Fire Department.
Political and community experience: I have served for over 12 years on Greene and Turner Fire Departments. While in Gorham, I volunteered at Gorham’s community trash pickup.
Why are you running for office, and how will your experience benefit your constituents?
As we move forward from the difficult times that COVID-19 has put on the people of Gorham, you deserve to be represented in the Maine House by a thoughtful, compassionate, and strong leader who will listen and will be a strong voice for Gorham. I will be taking on tough issues and solving complex problems such as improving lives, building the community and creating more opportunities for small businesses to grow. Growing up in a family of military veterans, I was raised to value service. My family instilled in me the values of integrity, empathy, conviction, hard work, and perseverance.
What do you see as the major issues for Gorham and how they might be addressed?
The bypass the highway department is going to put through the old golf course, property taxes, road traffic, housing availability and affordability, and educational issue such as school crowding and providing alternative educational paths for a generation that may need more of a vocational technical education over a college degree. These are all important issues that require difficult conversations, hard choices, and real solutions. This is a time for leaders in the legislature to put partisanship aside, work collaboratively, think differently and act boldly. I am that leader who will make the necessary changes to help the citizens of Gorham.