PARIS – Republican Bruce Hanley of Paris announces his candidacy for House District 94, representing the towns of Buckfield, Hartford, Paris and Sumner. Hanley, who is retired, has been a resident of Paris for more than 40 years.

He chose to run for state representative in response to the need for change in Augusta. “Our state faces some of the worst economic conditions in the country,” he said.

He offered some examples: “Maine is burdened with one of the highest tax structures in the nation, certainly the highest in New England. At the same time, Maine is well below the New England and national average for per capita income. State spending has increased by more than 500 percent in less than 20 years, while the population has remained almost static at 5 percent growth.”

Hanley said he wants to see “common sense and courage” restored in Augusta.

Maine ranks 48 out of 50 states for “small business survivability,” he noted, while one out of five manufacturing jobs has been lost from July 2000 through October 2003, a statistic he said he felt firsthand while managing Falcon Shoe Manufacturing in Lewiston until his retirement.

“Our state’s young people are fleeing in droves to seek opportunity elsewhere,” Hanley stated.

He is a father of four and grandfather of three. He said he feels fortunate that three sons still live in the district.

Hanley has been going door to door, meeting with the residents of Buckfield, Hartford, Paris and Sumner in his campaign, prior to the Nov. 2 election.