TOPSHAM

A familiar name will return to the ballot in November in the race for Maine House District 54.

The Sagadahoc County Democratic Committee announced that 35 Topsham Democrats attending the Tuesday caucus nominated Denise Tepler as their nominee for House District 54 following candidate Andrew Mason’s withdrawal from the race.

Mason, who this year finishes his first term in the House of Representatives, recently told The Times Record he made the decision to withdraw after determining his new job with a Portland law office would conflict with that of serving as a representative for Topsham residents.

Tepler has lived in Topsham for 30 years and been an active member of the community, a press release about her nomination states, noting she’s served on the School Administrative District 75 Board of Directors representing Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell and Topsham. She has volunteered for nonprofit organizations including United Way and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

“Knowing that Denise is willing to step up, and make this serious commitment to run, has made it possible for me to withdraw from running for a second term with a clear conscience — she is an experienced community leader who has also led a nonprofit organization committed to improving opportunities for women,” said Mason. “Denise knows Topsham, its people and its businesses, and is prepared to devote all of her time and talents to being an effective representative for them — I can think of no one better prepared to be the next representative for the people of Topsham. I am pleased to give Denise my full support.”

Tepler ran twice previously against for- mer Rep. Kerri Prescott for the House of Representatives to represent Topsham. She was defeated both times but noted this will be the first time she isn’t running for the Legislature against an incumbent.

“Our party represents the best of Maine values and our candidates are energized to move Maine forward this November,” said Ben Grant, chairman of the Maine Democratic Party. “Denise is a great example of a leader who will listen and give a voice to Topsham residents in Augusta.”

“First of all, I’m really sorry Andrew can’t run. I’m not happy about that at all,” Tepler said Wednesday. “It is very hard for people who are younger and have families they need to support, to serve in the Legislature the way that it works right now and Andrew really needs to be able to work at this new law job.”

When Mason announced his withdrawal from the race, she discussed running in his place with her family, friends in the community and Sagadahoc Democrats. Tepler said, “I got very positive feedback, and tremendous feedback from Andrew,” who will serve as her treasurer.

Tepler has continued to serve Topsham since past bids for the Legislature, serving for six years on the town’s Finance Committee. She and her husband raised three daughters who graduated from public schools.

“I have a lot of concern about keeping young people in Maine, or get them to come back to Maine; and my concerns are about student debt and also just generally about the economy being able to produce enough good jobs so people can pay off debt.”

She continues to be concerned about the economy, “which continues to be very slow growing.” However, “I’m particularly excited in terms of the good news about how Maine has the youngest farmers in the country and that we have this burgeoning of local farms and foods businesses.”

Local news stories abound about these local businesses, from people making fancy hams to Maine Harvest Co., which will hopefully be able to open in Topsham and take local foods from local farmers and process them, extending the viability of local foods to local consumers. As a teacher of cooking and advocate of local foods, “I’m very, very interested in those kinds of businesses.”

“My other concern is that for the last six years, I’ve served on our municipal Finance Committee,” and has worked with many different people on evaluating the town’s budget and trying to keep Topsham’s property taxes low, “and my big frustration is the rapid loss of revenue sharing from the state.”

Compared to four years ago, Topsham “lost $600,000 this year, and that has an impact on property taxes, on our ability to keep up with the conditions of our roads, and I know similar things have been happening with the schools which adds to our property tax load as well. So I feel that there are policies coming from executive branch in Augusta that are hurting local tax payers.”

Tepler is a Clean Elections candidate, and the release states, “plans to run a positive campaign focused on listening and responding to the concerns of voters in the district.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com