Age: 55

Running for: House District 122

Party: Republican

Residence: Willard neighborhood of South Portland

Family: Wife, Kathy

Education: law degree, University of Maine; master’s in business administration, University of Southern Maine; bachelor’s, U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Occupation: Lawyer

Attorney Brian Durham, a Republican from South Portland, says that “back-to-the-center politics” is his campaign slogan.

Durham, who spent his career in the Coast Guard, faces Democrat Terry Morrison in the race for House District 122.

“I hope to nudge Maine back toward the center,” Durham said.

“We are in the top third of states for taxes, and the bottom third for personal income. We need to move both of these toward the middle, which means we cannot increase taxes and must stimulate the economy.”

Durham’s top concerns are public safety, highways and education.

Durham says the state needs to be more welcoming to businesses to stimulate the economy and free-market system.

He wants to support small business by forming a bipartisan group of stakeholders, from university students and faculty to business owners and lawmakers.

“I would try to bring some common sense management to government,” he said. “We must start by measuring the performance and effectiveness of every government agency.”

Durham opposes raising taxes and would instead limit state spending.

He opposes the beverage tax, which funds the Dirigo health plan. He describes Dirigo as “a failed program.”

Durham wants the state to “get out of health care.”

“Most people will agree that our top priorities should be public safety, highways and education,” he added. “We all demand good schools; safe highways and bridges; and enough judges, police officers, and prison cells to control crime,” he said.

Maine also needs to plan for its short- and long-term energy needs, he said.

He supports bolstering heating assistance and providing tax incentives to encourage Mainers to insulate homes and conserve fuel.

He supports increasing domestic oil and natural gas production to end U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Durham wants Maine to explore alternative energies, including nuclear, hydro, biomass, coal, wind and tidal.

His career in the Coast Guard includes serving nine years in Hawaii and working at U.S. Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. Durham was assigned to the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War.

Durham said he hopes to apply his expertise and skills to working in the Legislature.