WESTBROOK — A sitting city councilor with close to a decade of state government experience and a retired human resources manager looking to give back to his new community are seeking the state House of Representatives seat representing residents on the north side of the city.

Ann Peoples, a Democrat who served in the Maine Legislature from 2006 to 2014 and currently holds an at-large seat on the City Council, and Jim Bourque, a Republican, are running to represent House District 35.

For the last four years, the seat had been filled by Dillon Bates, who opted not to seek reelection and later resigned from the post after allegations surfaced about improper relationships when he worked as a coach and teacher at Maine Girls Academy in Portland.

If elected to the House, Peoples said she intends to keep her City Council position. She said she was willing to give it up, but was advised not to.

“I will do my level best to give each of those jobs the attention they need,” she said, adding the time she has spent in municipal government has given her new insight and “sensitized to issues was not aware of before.”

Bourque, who lost to Bates in 2016 for the House 35 seat, said if elected he will  “go in and be a voice for business, try to contribute something and give people a choice.”

Enhancing transportation infrastructure, improving access to health care and making communities friendly for all ages so seniors can retain their homes, families can stay in the community and students get the education they need, are three of Peoples’ top issues she would like to tackle in Augusta.

“We need to take a look at where we are now and where we want to be in 30 years. I don’t think we are thinking in those terms,” Peoples said.

Bourque,who moved to Westbrook four years ago, said because Maine is “the grayest in the nation,” he wants to find ways to create more job opportunities to keep young people in the state and improve educational opportunities for students.

“It’s always been the assumption a four-year college degree is the way to go, but the courses people go for are not necessarily what will create a job for them,” he said.

Bourque said he is paying close attention to what residents have to say as he travels door to door in his district. Many of their concerns center around the leadership of Gov. Paul LePage and President Donald Trump, he said.

If elected, Bourque and Peoples also want to find funding and help for people facing opioid and opiate addictions.

“I am a believer in the three-leg stool approach: prevention, enforcement and, most importantly, treatment,” Peoples said.

Bourque said he wants to know the results of various treatment programs.

“If it is not working, let’s try another avenue. I want to look at how well  (treatment) has been working to get these people back on track,” he said.

Both Bourque and Peoples are traditionally financing their campaigns instead of relying on Clean Election money. As of Sept. 24, Bourque has spent $860 of the $2,050 he has raised, and Peoples has yet to spend any of the $1,100 she has raised.

Both Bourque and Peoples like their own party’s nomination for governor. At the June primaries Republicans tapped Shawn Moody and Democrats chose Janet Mills, both who have connections of Gorham.

“He’s a self-made man. He started out with not a lot and built himself up and helped a lot of people along the way. I like that,” Bourque said of Moody, who he said he is heavily leaning towards in the gubernatorial race.

Peoples said she is somewhat conflicted because she knows and has worked with both Mills and Independent candidate Terry Hayes at the State House.

“We have two absolutely great women running,” said Peoples, who sticking to the Democratic choice and is supporting Mills.

While House District 35 has a contested race, incumbent State Rep. Drew Gattine will not have competition for House District 34, which encompasses the city south of the Presumpscot River. Republican Elizabeth (Betty) Dyer, chairman of the Westbrook Republican Committee, dropped out of the race earlier this summer after winning an uncontested primary. Gattine, a former city councilor, has been serving in the statehouse since 2012.

Michael Kelley can be reached at 781-3661 x 125 or [email protected] or on Twitter @mkelleynews.

Name: Jim Bourque

Age: 71

Residence: 47 Grandview Terrace, Westbrook

Party: Republican

Family: Married, five children, six grandchildren

Occupation: Retired vice president of human resources, Nappi Distributors

Education: Master’s degree in business administration, West Springfield College

Political/civic experience: Ran for House 35 in 2016

Website: jimbourque.com

Age: 71

Address:  300 East Bridge St., Westbrook

Party: Democrat

Family: Widow, five children, six grandchildren

Occupation: Westbrook City Council

Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, University of California-Davis

Political/civic experience: Maine House of Representatives (2006-2014), Westbrook City Council (1994-1996, 2003-2005, 2016- present), Westbrook Planning Board (1996-2003), member of the Discover Downtown Westbrook Board of Directors, member Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System

Website: facebook.com/annfor35/