Matt Jacobson for Governor | Portland Press Herald covers Jacobson for Governor announcement

Portland Press Herald covers Jacobson for Governor announcement

Date: May 8, 2009
Author: Portland Press Herald

Political novice to run for governor

Matt Jacobson says he isn't a politician, but he knows how to create jobs for the state.

By DENNIS HOEY, Staff Writer May 8, 2009

PORTLAND — Matt Jacobson has never held political office, and he'd like to change that in a big way in the next gubernatorial election.

The president and chief executive officer of Maine & Company, a nonprofit corporation in Portland, announced Thursday that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor next year.

Only one other Republican has announced his candidacy, Bruce Poliquin, a businessman from Georgetown.

About 100 of Jacobson's supporters attended a campaign rally and press conference at Ocean Gateway on Portland's waterfront. His announcement was followed by a private fundraising reception.

Jacobson, 48, who has two young children, said he decided to run because he wants to secure the future for his children and other young people by making Maine a "world-class" place to live and do business.

Jacobson said his lack of political experience shouldn't matter because he has other skills to offer Maine citizens. "I am not a politician, and I don't claim to be, but I don't think what (politicians) have done in the last 30 years or so has been that good for Maine. I am not political and I am not a politican, but I am a job creator."

Since 2006, Maine & Company has worked closely with state government to recruit three major companies to the state: NotifyMD in Farmington, Athenahealth in Belfast, and Boston Financial Data Services in Rockland. Those companies have hired more than 1,500 people.

"That," said Chip Kelly, a member of Maine & Company's board of directors, "is the mark of a born leader."

Another campaign supporter, Ford Reiche, president of Safe Handling in Auburn, said he met Jacobson when he was president of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad in the late 1990s.

During Jacobson's tenure, the railroad tripled its revenue and attracted 23 new businesses to its line. Reiche credited Jacobson with re-energizing the rail service between Maine and Canada.

"We need a governor who is a collaborator and a team builder. With Matt, I have seen healthy doses of that," Reiche said.

Jacobson proposes making the state a destination for cruise ships. About 200 ships come to Maine each year. He would like to see that number increase to 1,500 a year.

Ship crews could be trained at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, he says, and the ships could be repaired and supplied in Maine.

Another idea is to create a world-class school for tourism in Maine. "We can be the best in the world, we just have to choose to be," he said.

Jacobson is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was a pilot in the Air Force, logging more than 3,000 hours of flying time in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He commanded and flew the C-130 Hercules aircraft.

He is married to an emergency room doctor at Central Maine Medical Center, Kemedy Kathryn McQuillen.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com

Portland Press Herald covers Jacobson for Governor announcement

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