U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE Andrew Ian Dodge, a Harspwell Libertarian, campaigned at Cundy’s Harbor Library recently and chatted with Debra Lively, a costume designer from Gorham also known as “Bookworm,” the library’s mascot in the 2012 Cundy’s Harbor Day Parade.
Andrew Ian Dodge represents the marriage of a libertarian and a conservative.
Dodge, running as a libertarian in the six-way race for Olympia Snowe’s U.S. Senate seat, points proudly to family roots he says date to pre-Revolutionary War America. He likes to talk about his grandfather, Alfred Dodge, who was a lobsterman and master boatbuilder in Boothbay.
“It’s that Maine common sense that you can’t spend more money than you’re taking in,” he said.
The Harpswell resident departs from most of his former Republican brethren on the prominent social issues of abortion and same-sex marriage.
He favors abortion rights, though he stops short at lateterm abortions, or “abortion on demand.”
“But ultimately,” he said, “the government should have no say on either.”
Dodge extends his libertarianism to aspects of everyday life such as the legal drinking age or funding of state highways.
Under the Federal Aid Highway Act, a state with a minimum drinking age below 21 is subjected to a 10 percent cut to its annual federal highway apportionment.
“Some of these people (younger than 21) are defending our country in the military — some of them are platoon commanders,” he said. “It’s crazy that the federal government has done this. I’m sick of the federal government blackmailing states to do stuff.”
“Collective punishment is something that I find immoral,” the quotable candidate said.
Dodge distinguishes himself from former presidential candidate Ron Paul, who he said “is not really a libertarian, just a social conservative.”
Dodge calls himself a “practical libertarian.”
“The U.S. must defend itself,” he said. “We don’t exist unless we have borders that exist, and we defend those borders. We must prevent illegal immigration. Our borders are a sieve. It’s ridiculous.”
Dodge also takes exception to Paul’s policy toward Israel.
“We either should help them with military aid,” he said, “or we should get the heck out of their way. One or the other.”
Dodge is among three Midcoast residents seeking Snowe’s seat in the U.S. Senate, along with independents Angus King and Danny Dalton, both of Brunswick.
But he faces an uphill battle against better-known mainstream candidates such as King, Democrat Cynthia Dill and Republican Charlie Summers. Independent Steve Woods, of Yarmouth, is also on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Regardless, Dodge has no problem differentiating himself, appearing at debates in his trademark vest, longish hair and graying goatee.
His rhetorical jabs fly, and he may be the only U.S. Senate candidate in history to voice support for legalizing “magic mushrooms.”
His unifying theme: a deep distrust of government.
“End government earmarks, such as failures like No Child Left Behind,” he said. “It’s a huge burden on the educational system, with little results.
“The federal government, when it comes to money, is like a drug dealer. Maine does best when it does for itself. It’s become too addicted when it comes to federal funds.”
National defense?
“The defense budget must be looked at. I believe there should be no sacred cows. There’s waste and duplicity in all forms of government.”
lgrard@timesrecord.com
Name: Andrew Ian Dodge
Age: 44
Education: BA, Colby College, government; postgraduate, University of
Hull, England, legislative
studies
Occupation: freelance writer
Political experience: statelevel Tea Party Patriots
coordinator; international
speaker; campaign aide
for former Gov. John McKernan.
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