Troy Jackson (politician)

Troy Jackson
Member of the Maine Senate
from the 1 district
Assumed office
2016
Preceded by Peter Edgecomb
In office
2008–2014
Preceded by John L. Martin
Succeeded by Peter Edgecomb
Personal details
Born (1968-06-26) June 26, 1968
Fort Kent, Maine
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Lana Pelletier
Residence Allagash, Maine
Alma mater University of Maine at Fort Kent
Profession Logger
Religion Roman Catholic

Troy Dale Jackson (born June 26, 1968) is an American politician and logger from Maine. Jackson is a Democratic State Senator-elect from Maine's 35th District, representing much of the northern Maine, including the towns of Fort Kent, Madawaska and Van Buren. He was first elected to the Maine State Senate in 2008. In June 2014, Jackson lost the Democratic primary for Maine's second Congressional District in 2014 to fellow State Senator Emily Cain. In November 2016, Jackson was re-elected to the Senate and a week later he was chosen by he fellow Democrats to be the Senate Minority Leader.[1]

Career

Jackson first ran for the Maine House of Representatives in 2000 for Maine House District 151, as a Republican, and lost to Marc E. Michaud, Democrat.[2] He was elected to House 151 in 2002 as an Independent, defeating incumbent Marc E. Michaud, Democrat.[3] in 2004, after Maine's post census legislative redistricting, Jackson won a resounding reelection for House District 1, against Paul Berube, 3,486 to 1,248[4] In 2008 Jackson ran and won Maine State Senate District 35. In December 2012, Jackson was elected Assistant Majority Leader of the State Senate after the Democrats took back control of the body. On July 10, 2013, Jackson was elected Majority Leader of the Maine Senate after the resignation of fellow Democrat Seth Goodall.[5]

On July 1, 2013, following incumbent Democratic Congressman Mike Michaud's decision to explore running for Governor of Maine, Jackson announced he would run for Maine's 2nd congressional district, which had been Michaud's seat since 2003.[6] On June 10, 2014, Jackson lost the primary to fellow State Senator Emily Cain.[7]

On Jan. 25, 2015, Jackson was elected as a member of the Democratic National Committee.[8] It was in that capacity that he was chosen to introduce Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at a campaign rally before 8,000 supporters in Portland Maine on July 6, 2015.[9]

Jackson entered the race for his former State Senate seat (renumbered Senate District 1) on January 4, 2016. [10]

During the 2016 presidential election, Jackson was a prominent supporter of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and cast his superdelegate vote for him at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.[11]

Politics

He is an advocate for workers rights, especially for fellow loggers. In 2010, Jackson wrote a bill which would have "prohibited the Maine Department of Conservation from employing foreign laborers at state-owned logging sites". It passed both the House of Representatives and the State Senate before being vetoed by Governor Paul LePage. LePage questioned the bill's constitutionality while Jackson said that LePage was favoring large Canadian logging corporations over American workers.[12]

In June 2013, Jackson called LePage "obstructionist" and "delusional" regarding discussions about the 2013-2014 state budget. LePage responded with personal attacks on Jackson, saying that Jackson "claims to be for the people but he’s the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline", as well as saying Jackson had a "black heart".[13]

Personal

Jackson attended Allagash Consolidated Community High School before obtaining an A.A. in business from the University of Maine at Fort Kent. He lives in Allagash, Maine.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (November 14, 2016). "Democrats elect Troy Jackson to lead them in the Maine Senate". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "General Election Tabulations November 7, 2000 REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LEGISLATURE". www.maine.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "General Election Tabulations November 5, 2002 STATE REPRESENTATIVE". www.maine.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "General Election Tabulations November 2, 2004 STATE REPRESENTATIVE". www.maine.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (July 10, 2013). "Senate Democrats pick Jackson, Haskell as leaders after Goodall's resignation". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  6. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (July 1, 2013). "Aroostook County's Sen. Troy Jackson announces run for congressional seat". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Moretto, Mario (June 10, 2014). "Emily Cain wins Democrats' 2nd District primary — Politics — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "25 - January - 2015 - Maine Progressives Warehouse". Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "Bernie Sanders' populist message draws thousands to campaign event in Portland - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". 6 July 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Shepherd, Michael (January 4, 2016). "Democrats McCabe, Jackson announce Maine Senate bids". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  11. ↑ Moretto, Mario (July 6, 2015). "Bernie Sanders urges 'political revolution' in Portland". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  12. ↑ LePages comments on logging stir debate in The County Bangor Daily News, August 26, 2011
  13. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (June 21, 2013). "Democratic senator lets LePage 'Vaseline' jab slide off his back". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  14. ↑ Biography Maine Senate
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