FRYEBURG – Oxford County Sheriff Skip Herrick has endorsed the candidacy of Fryeburg lawyer David Hastings, who’s seeking the Republican nomination for Maine Senate District 13, currently held by Rick Bennett of Norway.

Because of term limits, Bennett cannot run again. Hastings is running in the June 8 primary against Caldwell Jackson of Oxford, who recently was endorsed by Bennett.

Hastings, a lifelong Fryeburg resident, and Herrick visited a large number of business in the Norway-Paris area Thursday.

He recently completed visits with selectmen of all 14 towns that make up the district.

All of the boards are worried about the impact that a proposed tax cap referendum, up for a vote in November, would have on municipal budgets, he said.

He supports having the state take on a larger share of education expenses to ease the property tax burden, but believes the increased support should be phased in over five years – as proposed by the Legislature – rather than all at once.

Hastings also favors capping the rate of growth in government spending at all levels.

Hastings and his wife, Carol, have four children. He has practiced law in his family law firm for 28 years. He served over 20 years on the Eastern Slope Airport Authority, many as chairman. He also served three terms on the SAD 72 School Board.

Since 1995, Hastings has been a trustee of Fryeburg Academy. He has been active in the management of the Fryeburg Fair for 28 years.