A second Republican has announced his candidacy for the 1st Congressional District seat now held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree.

Ande Smith, a small-business owner and attorney from North Yarmouth, filed his candidacy papers with the Federal Election Commission, according to a news release.

Smith said he served nearly 30 years in the U.S. Navy and owns his own cybersecurity consulting firm in Maine.

He emphasized national security issues in his media statement. National security and the threat of terrorism have become leading issues in the presidential race, particularly among a crowded Republican field of candidates.

“I am committed to securing America’s future,” he said in a written statement. “Today, America is a nation adrift. The global threat of ISIS, illegal immigration, wrong-headed gun control and a struggling economy lead the news while Washington is unable to agree on and implement practical, prudent solutions. It takes active leadership to restore the safety and security we need for our children. My military, business and education experience qualify me to provide that leadership in Congress.”

Smith said he’s a Maine native and holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master’s in public affairs from the University of Connecticut, and a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. A registered patent attorney, he is admitted to the bars of Maine and New Hampshire.

Smith now serves on the Maine State Board of Education.

He is the second Republican so far to challenge Pingree, who is running for re-election this November. Mark Irving Holbrook of Brunswick declared last November that he intended to run.

 


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