Wayne Parry’s lobster boat Black Jack
I have lived in Maine my whole life, growing up in Windham and graduating from Windham High School. I then went to work for Coca-Cola, working in the warehouse while still in school, then driving a truck for almost ten years. In 1989, I started my first small business, but soon learned that writing paychecks is a lot harder than collecting one.
Unsuccessful in my first try in business, in 1995 I started working on the back of a lobster boat. In 1999, I bought the boat I had been working on and also started my own lobster bait business. Shortly after that, I built my home in Arundel, where I now live with my wife Susan.
After years of watching the mess going on in Augusta, I decided that I needed to try to fix the problems, instead of just complaining about them.
In 2008, with the odds against me and never having been politically active, I came within just 99 votes of winning. In 2010, with a little more knowledge, I ran again and this time the citizens of House District 140 saw fit to send me to Augusta as their State Representative. Over the last dozen years, they have seen fit to re-elect me five more times.
It has been a pleasure to represent all the people of this district. I believe my experience and common sense has helped me and YOU greatly in Augusta.
I have served all six of my terms on the Transportation Committee, with four of those terms as the Republican Ranking Member of the Committee. I always say, I’ve been spoiled being on Transportation Committee, because we don’t have the partisan fights that most other committees have. We also have our own budget in the Transportation Committee, which oversees all transportation needs in the State. It has always been considered the second most important committee, next to only the Appropriations Committee.
This Legislative Session was satisfying in one aspect: something that I’ve been working on for almost ten years finally came together. In this Legislature, I was able to get 40% of the Sales & Use Taxes on vehicles moved permanently into the Highway Fund. I have always thought that since this tax is 100% highway use, why shouldn’t it go into the Highway Fund for transportation needs?
This action took a lot of work in a bi-partisan way. I, along with Legislative Republicans and some courageous Democrats on the Committee, were also able to get Governor Janet Mills to agree to this bill. This was a true bi-partisan effort, which there isn’t much of in Augusta these days.
Let’s be clear: we are still underfunding our transportation system. As I said, we moved 40% of the Sales & Use Tax on vehicles into the Highway Fund, which I would consider a good first step on our way to moving ALL vehicle sales taxes into the Highway Fund. Appropriations Committee Democrats have already tried to take this money back; they must be stopped!
I believe I bring MAINE COMMON SENSE to the table and my ability to work with willing Democrats and the Governor is a true asset to the House District I serve.
Let’s keep a little common sense in Augusta.
Vote to RE-ELECT WAYNE PARRY this November 5th!