LISBON — Former Republican state Rep. Dale Crafts is vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat Jared Golden for the 2nd District Congressional seat in 2020.

He will have to beat out former state Sen. Eric Brakey of Auburn for the Republican nomination. The Portland Press Herald reports that Adrienne Bennett, a former press secretary to ex-Gov. Paul LePage, has said she’s likely going to enter the contest as well.

Golden, of Lewiston, is a first-term congressman, having defeated incumbent Republican Bruce Poliquin in the state’s first ranked-choice congressional election in 2018. Poliquin in August said he is not interested in running again.

Crafts will officially announce his candidacy for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District on Thursday morning at the MTM Community Center at 18 School St., in Lisbon Falls.

Crafts served in the Maine House of Representatives representing Lisbon from 2008 to 2016, but was prevented from running again due to term limits.

He has served as vice-chair of the Lisbon Republican Party since.

Before serving in the House, he served on the Lisbon Town Council from 2006 to 2009. He’s also served on the town’s revitalization committee and the revolving loan committee. He served as Lisbon’s MTM Community Center director from 2006 to 2008.

A local businessman, Crafts is the president and owner of several businesses including Crafts Self Storage Inc., Crafts Builders Inc., the Goin’ Postal Franchise and CSS Pre-Owned Inc. Auto Sales.

Crafts, 60, was raised in Lisbon where he attended Lisbon High School and co-captained the football team in 1977-78.

He was injured in a motorcycle crash in 1983 that left him a paraplegic.

“Through this circumstance, he was inspired to start Mobility Plus, a research and development company focused on providing opportunities for paraplegics to drive once again,” a news release states. “As Dale likes to say, he is independent today simply because he can drive.”

Crafts has six children and 14 grandchildren and is an avid hunter and fisherman. He is a lifetime NRA member and former board member of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

dmoore@timesrecord.com.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.