JACKSON BEGINS SERVICE AS ASSISTANT SENATE MAJORITY LEADER

AUGUSTA—Senator Troy Jackson of Allagash was sworn in as the next Assistant Majority Leader for the 126th Maine Senate during a ceremony at the State House on December 5.

“I’m excited beyond words when I think about how much this means for the people back home,” said Senator Jackson. “After years of advocating on behalf of working families in Aroostook County and all over Maine, it’s extremely moving to be chosen by my colleagues and to serve our community in a way that will bring about meaningful change.”

Jackson, who represents Senate District 35, is serving his third term in the state Senate. Last month, he was unanimously  elected by his peers as the Assistant Majority Leader for the Maine State Senate.

Raised in Aroostook County, Jackson credits his upbringing for his approach to politics.

“I’ve always said that I don’t see my friends and neighbors in northern Maine as Republicans or Democrats – we’re all hard workers, we’ve all got families to be concerned for, we’re all proud of who we are,” said Senator Jackson. “It’s fine to have policy disagreements or present contrast in Augusta, but partisanship is a tired game that doesn’t always lead to achieving anything. I’ve always felt comfortable working with people on both sides of the aisle, and I plan to continue doing so this year.”

Reflecting on the upcoming challenges of the Legislative session, Senator Jackson said, “People are struggling in this state. Our job here in Augusta is to do everything possible to give Mainers the chance to get their lives back on track. At the end of the day, you need to be able to answer the questions, ‘What have I done to help folks get back to work? What have I done to make Aroostook County stronger? What have I done to help people have the chance to make their own lives better?’ Everyone needs a shot at the ladder of success and I’m going to be reminding my colleagues of that every single day.”

A logger by trade, Jackson is the former Chair of the Labor Committee, and is known in Augusta as an advocate for working families and small businesses. During the 125th Legislature, Jackson was honored with awards by several organizations including the Maine AFL-CIO and the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine. Jackson lives in Allagash with his wife Lana Pelletier, and their sons, Chace and Camden.

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