Democratic state senator and former Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion is throwing his hat in the ring for the governor’s race.
At a press conference at the Cumberland County Jail in Portland on Thursday, he said Maine needs a governor who will lead through teamwork and persuasion, instead of provocation.
“Mine will be an administration that you can actually talk to. Will listen first and speak last. Will be an administration that will know priorities,” he said.
Those priorities include bolstering legacy industries like forestry and farming, improving the community health system and tackling the opioid epidemic.
Dion is the 10th Democrat to join the primary race, but he said his trusting, team-based style sets him apart.
“I’ve never been the best at anything I’ve ever done, but I have been the best at finding those people who can make that performance excel,” he said.
Dion said his 40 years of public service at the municipal, county, and state level gives him the experience needed to be the chief executive of the state.
“I know how the machine works, I’ve built relationships across all those areas of policy and practice. It’s time to put those resources to work. It’s time to build a team that will work for this state,” he said.
Four Republicans have entered the race so far, as have two independents, plus a Green Party and a Libertarian candidate.
This story was originally published Oct. 12, 2017 at 6:18 p.m. ET.
