Abden Simmons of Waldoboro, running for District 91 in the Republican primary, said it is time for working people to have a voice in Augusta.

Simmons is a member of the Waldoboro Board of Selectmen, and has been a fisherman all his life, as well as running a small business in Waldoboro. He and his wife have a seafood outlet in town. “I’ve caught, dug, or trapped everything there is to catch,” he said. “I’m a member of the shellfish committee because the kids in this town ... it’s what they know, and what they’ll be, and someone needs to look out for them.”

Simmons said he’s familiar with Augusta. He goes up in the winter to let the representatives know how the fisheries are doing. He said that he believes it’s time for a different perspective in Augusta. “I’m a working person, I don’t spend any time behind a desk,” he said. “I’m out and about, and I know what’s going on in terms of marine resources and the fisheries.” He said that less regulation is necessary for everyone.

His dealership is the last one operating in Waldoboro. “We are the largest clam producer in the state,” he said, “and Friendship is the number one producer of lobsters. There are 152 clammers in Waldoboro, and we need to make sure that the fisheries stay open for them, and their kids, when their time comes.” He is concerned about pollution issues along the Medomak River, and spearheaded a drive to close the town landing to dogs.  “Everything else we can think of has been checked. But there’s one part of the landing that keeps getting bad reports, and the only thing we can think of is dog waste.”

Simmons and wife April have one son, Dalton, who is just getting out of the Marines after a four-year, eight-month stint. The candidate’s wife also works for the business, but Dalton is going to work for Dead River Company in South Portland when he gets home.

While Simmons believes working with the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources would be a natural fit, Simmons said he welcomes learning new things. “I love to learn,” he said. “I’d be happy to work in any area they think I’d be useful.”