Saco City Councilor and Maine House of Representative Candidate Marshall Archer. Courtesy photo/Marshall Archer
SACO — Ward 1 City Councilor and Deputy Mayor Marshall Archer has announced he’s running to represent District 129, which covers part of Saco, in the Maine House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by Democrat Maggie O’Neil, whose term ends in December.
Archer, also a Democrat, announced the news on LinkedIn earlier this month, writing “after seven incredible years serving as a councilor, I am ready to take on new challenges and continue representing the best interests of my constituents. Throughout my time as a city councilor, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with the community, addressing your concerns, and contributing to the betterment of (the) city.”
Archer has been on the Saco City Council since 2017 and is a life long resident of the city, according to his campaign website.
“I look for collaboration and relationship building,” Archer told the Biddeford Courier, speaking of his reputation on the City Council.
So far, no one else has publicly announced they are running against Archer in District 129. Archer said he intends to run a traditionally funded campaign, and not take advantage of Maine’s clean election program, which allows candidates to use state money to fund their campaigns instead of running on individual donations.
In his professional life, Marshall is a director of partner engagement for a workforce development organization, The Fedcap Group, as well as a property investor. He is also a part-time faculty member at the University of Southern Maine in the school of social work.
Archer is a veteran and served with the Marines from 2001 to 2005, during which time he was deployed twice to Iraq. He has held many positions dealing with veterans affairs, including as the veterans and compliance officer for the City of Portland and as a program manager for AMVETS, a veterans service agency. He also helped found a veteran resource center at the University of Southern Maine and assisted with the passage of LD 1488, a 2009 law that gives Maine veterans free access to Maine state parks, according to his campaign materials.
Archer lists workforce and small business development, supporting education, and encouraging public input as key planks of his campaign. He wants to help develop apprenticeship, vocational training and job placement programs to support the workforce, and support entrepreneurs to create a stronger small business environment. He’s also in favor of making higher education more accessible and investing in schools.
Archer said he’s particularly excited to focus on economic and workforce development policy that improves overall macroeconomic conditions, like keeping unemployment low. “It’s kind of cliché, but I do believe that saying that ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’ … a strong economy benefits all,” he said. Archer is also the chair of the Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce.
The current House representative, Maggie O’Neil, first ran for the Maine House in 2016, and is not eligible to run again under state law, which limits members of the House to four consecutive two-year terms.
Copy the Story LinkComments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
