Abbott joins Maine governor's race
ORONO, Maine — Steve Abbott, the longtime top adviser to Sen. Susan Collins, formally announced his entrance into Maine’s gubernatorial race Tuesday during an enthusiastic rally to a hometown crowd.
Abbott, who grew up in Orono, will join a field of seven other Republicans who plan to vie for the GOP nomination during this June’s primary. During campaign stops in Portland, Orono and Presque Isle, Abbott said Maine needs to restructure its entire economy by leveraging its existing assets in new ways.
As part of that effort, Abbott announced the creation of an initiative called “Maine Vision 2020” to present a long-term plan to grow Maine’s economy in time for the state’s bicentennial in one decade. He said the state should honor its economic past but not try to re-create it.
“If we’re really going to put Maine on a track to prosperity, we need our government to look beyond a two-year election cycle,” Abbott told several hundred supporters crammed into an Orono hotel conference room. “We need to be willing to take steps that might not pay off right away but that will restructure our economy for the future.”
Steve Abbott understands that our young people need the best possible opportunities in education AND a state that supports and encourages a strong Maine economy. Steve knows that a great education combined with a strong economy is the best way to ensure that our young people will be able to build their lives, grow their businesses, and raise their families right here.
