I'll be among the many voters in Winterport, Frankfort, Prospect, Stockton Springs and Searsport proudly casting my vote to send Scott Cuddy back to the Maine House of Representatives.

Scott has a proven track record of getting things done for all Mainers. He has sponsored legislation protecting taxpayers and farmers, and improving technical and maritime education and access to broadband Internet. He is passionate about local education and the environment.

During the pandemic he worked tirelessly to help small businesses survive, including assisting the owners of the Coastal Care in Searsport to stay open during the pandemic.

I hope that every constituent in Winterport, Frankfort, Prospect, Stockton Springs and Searsport will vote Nov. 5 to put Scott back in the Legislature where he can continue to work on our behalf.

Paul Follansbee

Winterport

(as originally published in the July 11th edition of the Republican Jouranl)

I’ve known Scott Cuddy for near a decade. when my wife and I first decided to open our small café in Searsport. He was a good customer and I knew him as a union electrician.

We had many talks, and he must have heard me complain about politicians coming in to get a photo shoot, because I didn’t even know he was running until I saw the signs around town in 2018.

When we finally did get around to discussing policy, I didn’t agree with everything; but I did know that he was there to be a public servant. Many of the politicians today are just looking for a jumping board to get involved in bigger politics, and the work they do is all based on making you mad at the other team.

Over the years I’ve known Scott, he has always been rock-solid. He appreciates the area he lives in and has always represented the people in his district. He has not spoken poorly of his opponents, and he has not gotten into the culture wars that pervade our National Politics. He does the work; writing, sponsoring, and showing up to votes. He isn’t focused on his religion, or his next big election. He was always focused on making sure his children have a future, and that future is Maine.

During the Pandemic, we closed our restaurant a few days before the statewide shutdown. One of the first things I did was talk with Scott about how we, and the state, were going to take care employees during this time. He was immediately responsive and pushed through with other lawmakers bills to protect unemployment for workers, and new bills to give relief to employers who were worried about unemployment insurance rates. I have rarely seen anyone work with the passion, fervor, or determination Scott had during that time. He never stopped, he responded to everyone, and worked tirelessly to assure that he could help the greatest amount of people, with the greatest need.

If you, like me, are tired of the politics of today, Scott is the obvious choice. He treats his position with respect and brings dignity to the office. He does the work, and in his many accomplishments as our state representative, has proven that he’s not a politician, but a public servant.

Our area, state, and nation could use a whole lot more people like Scott. I support him because we need people who don’t want to be famous, bring more division to our communities, spend their time trying to anger us.

Scott has proven when things get hard, he works harder and expects nothing but the satisfaction of a job well done.

Patrick Kelley

Searsport

(as originally published in the August 12th edition of the Pen Bay Pilot)

We support Scott Cuddy to represent the citizens in District 37. We have known Scott since he was a child growing up in our neighborhood.

Scott is a smart, thoughtful and concerned member of our community and will work hard to make life better for us all. Scott has a proven record and experience in the House, having passed several bills with bipartisan support in his last term to promote economic development, maritime education and bring construction jobs to Maine.

Scott is committed to Maine for the long term and has gotten involved in the community by serving on the school board for multiple terms, attending Town Council meetings and speaking out and standing up for issues that will bring economic prosperity and quality of life to all people. Cuddy is in favor of commonsense development to construct offshore wind power. This will continue his work on environmental issues to combat climate change as well as bring blue-collar, well-paying jobs to our region.

Cuddy supports issues that are important to us, including education, the environment and women’s rights. We strongly believe that Scott Cuddy is the best choice to represent District 37 in the House of Representatives. He will work hard to improve the quality of life for all the citizens of Maine.

Connie and Doug Ronco

Winterport

(as originally published in the August 1st edition of the Republican Journal)

We found a recent letter to the editor about Scott Cuddy deeply concerning. Beginning with the implied association between The Maine Communist party and Scott’s speaking there, Joe Parise mimics Joe McCarthy’s “Red Baiting” of the 1950s. If in his work role or former role as a four-year state representative, Cuddy spoke there, so what? He should be speaking to everyone: the NRA, Little League Parents, Business Owners, etc.

The writer states the current incumbent, Reagan Paul, better represents Maine values. This is not true. Paul is a Christan Nationalist and votes her religious beliefs, regardless of those of the majority of her constituents. While this is appropriate on a personal level, it is biased and unfair to those she represents. Mainers overwhelmingly support abortion rights, which Paul has consistently opposed. Her world view favors extreme positions on reproductive issues. Most Mainers (64-84% depending on whatever source you use) believe pregnancy decisions belong to the woman and her doctor. Reagan Paul does not believe in the separation between church and state.

Scott Cuddy has a proven history of supporting women’s personal reproductive decisions. We believe he should be returned to the Legislature.

Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights Mayo Bulloch lives in Searsport and Lisa Kushner lives in Belfast

(as originally published in the August 8th edition of the Pen Bay Pilot)

I live in Stockton Springs. All the towns around here have local economies that are badly stressed. The impact from the lack of jobs, low-paying jobs, and seasonal jobs is inescapable. It is hard on the families who live here. Hard for people who want to come here to live.

Climate change is inescapable here. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than most oceans. The lobsters and the whales are being driven further out to sea, making local fishermen, tourist businesses, and all of us poorer.

We need hard-working, pragmatic leaders like Scott Cuddy in the state house. He has proven abilities to drive and pass legislation improving education, training, jobs and renewable energy and to work with everyone for the common good.

This is a wonderful place to live. We have to work to keep it that way and make it even better. Scott Cuddy will help us.

Barton Haase

Stockton Springs

(as originally published in the Aug 16th edition of the Pen Bay Pilot)

People in House District 37 are feeling the pain of price gouging on essential goods. Corporate greed has placed many people into financial hardship, while wages remain stagnant. We need someone in Augusta who understands the financial struggles of hardworking Mainers and I believe Scott Cuddy is the right person for the job.

Like many people in our district, I’ve witnessed my grocery and fuel bills skyrocket. Although my household's consumption has remained stable, our bills eat more of our hard-earned income. We have held off on home repairs, reconsidered medical visits, and greatly decreased leisure activities to ensure we are fed, housed and comfortable. Our struggles reflect those of our neighbors and friends who have expressed how defeated they feel in this economy.

Scott Cuddy understands the source of people’s financial hardships isn’t personal failings, but corporate greed. Scott has shown he supports everyday people during his previous time as our representative by supporting bills that will increase wages, strengthen labor protections, and grow local industries through targeted tax incentives. He has also fought to hold utility providers accountable by ensuring electricity costs remain affordable.

We need someone who won’t instigate culture wars, take people’s rights away, or give handouts to corporations. Scotty Cuddy knows what’s important for his constituents to thrive and will side with everyday people. That’s why I support bringing Scott Cuddy back to Augusta to represent District 37.

Craig Cardamone

Winterport

As originally published in the Republican Journal

I wanted to throw my voice into the chorus endorsing Scott Cuddy for the 37th Legislative District race.

I believe I offer a unique endorsement, as someone who ran against him in 2018 for what was then the 98th District. I was the Republican candidate that year, narrowly losing to Scott, a fact I do not for one instant lament. His time in office was a study in bipartisanship and servant leadership.

After the Tree of Life shooting that year, during election season, Scott reached out and we issued a joint statement decrying bigotry and antisemitism. It meant the world to me personally. It was a reminder that politics shouldn’t be about fealty to our two-party system, but the immortal communion of fellow humans. I vote on character and competency, and Scott has both in spades.

Our area has things to show for Scott’s time in office. On matters of workforce and economic development in our part of Waldo County, Scott was present and accounted for on our behalf. And my favorite end-product of his time in office—as a soon-to-retire member of the Maine Army National Guard and Civil War history wonk—was his successful push to make the “Ballad of the 20th Maine” our official state ballad.

I am voting for Scott Cuddy because I know him. I know his capabilities. I know the depths of his consideration. We are so lucky to have him as a candidate, especially on a time when we rely more on effective governance from Augusta than from Washington, D.C.

Ordinarily I would leave it at this positive endorsement of someone I respect as a candidate and as a friend, but it needs to be said: our current representation is found wanting in every meaningful way. The ubiquity of signs throughout the area do not obfuscate that we have a representative now who has brought no demonstrable value. We have no evidence that this will change if she is given a second term.

Thankfully, we have an intelligent, intentional, and prepared consensus-builder in Scott Cuddy. I urge everyone in this district to cast their vote for him in November.

Respectfully,

Brian Kresge, MBA

2018 Republican Candidate for the 98th District

I am writing to voice my support for electing Scott Cuddy as the representative for Maine’s District 37. Scott has a proven track record of writing legislation that helps blue-collar workers throughout the state and getting it through the legislative process and enacted into law. I also strongly endorse his support for offshore wind energy, a budding industry that has the potential to bring good paying careers to people throughout the state while also reducing our carbon footprint.

As a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy with a seagoing career that spanned three-plus decades, I know these offshore jobs can play a huge role in providing our younger citizens with a career path that is sustainable, empowering, and fulfilling.

Please vote for Scott to represent District 37 in the State House so he can help lead us into a brighter future.

Stephen Cole

Stockton Springs