Democrat Geoffrey Heckman is challenging Republican Gary Plummer for the District 111 state House of Representatives seat. District 111 covers most of Windham.
Geoffrey Heckman
Geoffrey Heckman, 34, of 496 River Road, Windham, is seeking election for state representative for District 111.
“I was asked by (House Majority Leader) Glenn Cummings to run,” Heckman said. “I enjoy working with people and helping them find solutions to their problems.”
Heckman has prior experience helping others with issues, as he has worked at the Windham Correctional Facility as a substance abuse councilor.
“I don’t like to sit behind a desk,” said Heckman. “I want to make a difference.”
Heckman said he has “done a little of everything.” Beyond working for the corrections facility, he has also worked for L.L. Bean, and is currently employed at a mortgage company. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Southern Maine. He later attended the Muskie School for a master’s in public policy and management.
Heckman said that when it comes to social values, he is more of a liberal; but, when it comes to fiscal issues, he is much more moderate.
“I think everyone should have an opportunity,” said Heckman. “I don’t think there should be a vast gap between the differences of those opportunities. In the end, I don’t think it should be about the parties, but about the people.
Among Heckman’s top priorities are education, health-care and taxes.
“Education is big,” said Heckman. “I want to help stimulate the economy through an educated workforce. A big problem is then keeping that educated crowd in Maine, so we need to find a way to compete with other state levels.”
Heckman said that he would like to see money funded to local community colleges in order to bring down the cost of tuition for the surrounding Maine communities. He also said that while he liked the Dirigo Health plan, “It has its faults. It could work once we iron out the problems.”
When it comes to taxes, one of Heckman’s main focuses is on retirees living on a fixed income. “When you raise property taxes on these people, their entire budgets become unbalanced, as they were set up for a certain budget that is now inflated in costs.”
Heckman said he is also against TABOR. “Anything suspended by the state that created it sends up some red flags,” he said of the issue.
Heckman is a member of the Sportsman Alliance of Maine. At 35 years of age, he says that he knows he is of a vast minority in the political world.
“The average age is 54,” said Heckman of Maine’s legislators. “So there’s a big gap between the Legislature and the people. I think I represent another portion of the whole.”
Heckman said that if he were elected to office, he would try to incorporate some sort of polling, most probably through the Internet, in an attempt to attain more feedback from the district he would be representing.
Of his opponent, current State Representative Gary Plummer, Heckman said, “I’m going against an institution, which is going to be tough. But I think I represent a good portion of the people, and I look forward to the elections.”
Heckman said he has not had many conversations with Plummer, but is happy that the two have campaigned respectfully for the position.
“It’s nice to be able to do that,” said Heckman.
Gary Plummer
Republican Incumbent Gary Plummer is seeking another term to serve District 111.
“It all started back in high school,” Plummer said. “Spending a week at Boy’s State, going through the political process piqued my interest.”
After engaging himself in the world of politics at an early age, Plummer went off to college to learn more about sects of society and how they work together to form larger functioning communities.
“In college, I earned a Ford Fellowship, which allowed me to travel the country and parts of England, where I learned different types of education styles. In Vermont, I followed the superintendent from town to town, attending town meetings and dealing with their budgets. Just learning about life in other places gave me the experience in how things work.”
In 1974, the town of Windham moved from a selectmen form of goverment to a town council, which sparked Plummer’s interest to become more politically active in the community. He ran for council and was elected for three terms.
“I gained an appreciation for what it is to run a government,” said Plummer. “Augusta is a much more engaging position. Input is almost constant for just about everything. State government affects just about everybody’s life, and I really enjoy that connection with the people.”
Plummer said his past experience is what makes him fit for the task, as he has a base of knowledge of things that he has seen work and not work. He has been and remains active in his community, working with the Windham Historical Society to open the Parson’s Smith House to the public; attempting to bring a Farmer’s Market to Windham; reopen Old Home Days; and working as a trustee of the Cumberland County Civic Center.
Plummer’s main priorities are creating opportunities for small businesses to start and stay in operation, health care, and Maine’s job market.
“It’s a challenge just to continue to stay in business,” said Plummer. “The more the costs, the less leftover for payroll. Healthcare is becoming unaffordable, and while healthcare from the state is nice, I don’t feel it is a viable solution.”
Plummer said he would like to see Mainers gain the ability to pursue out-of-state health insurance “similar to the way we can shop for car insurance.”
Among the bills he has worked on, Plummer is happy with his work on Tina’s Law, a law to remove suspended-license drivers off the road; recent overhauls of laws pertaining to sex offenders, which now include longer prison sentences; and laws pertaining to gift cards, which no longer allow businesses to deduct amounts from gift cards that are not used promptly.
Plummer has had little contact with his opponent, Heckman, but has met him enough times on the campaign trail to wish him the best.
“We’ve spotted one another a few times, campaigning, posting signs, and what-have-you. He’s a nice man to talk to and has a good sense of humor, which is good to have in these things,” said Plummer of Heckman.
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