Bar Harbor small-business owner Tim Rich officially kicked off his Congressional run with a decidedly non-political gathering in a decidedly non-political locale. Rich threw his hat in the ring for Maine’s Second seat, currently held by Rep. Bruce Poliquin, in front of dozens of friends, family, and supporters in the Bar Harbor village green.

“Honestly, up until this point I had no taste for political office,” he said, in a news release. “But I couldn’t sit by and watch things getting harder for you and me and for our state and our country – and not do anything.” Rich told the crowd of Bar Harbor residents and attendees - some of whom drove as much as 3 hours each way to see the event. “Republicans and too many Democrats just don’t get it. Time and again politicians negotiate against themselves and it’s never enough to do what needs to be done. When those we elect try to turn politics into their career, keeping their job gets in the way of doing their job.”

Rich spoke  about universal health care, climate change, paying employees a livable wage, and fighting for Maine’s working families.  

Rich is a seventh generation Mainer and the son of a garage door installer and school cafeteria baker, both of whom were in attendance today. He is the long-time owner of The Independent Cafe in Bar Harbor, one of the most popular cafes in the county, and is a long-time resident of Seal Harbor on Mount Desert island. 

Full text of the speech can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-UVf995MBgoAbvGYeK6jaA_PhBDRipAtPMM0815ilnk/edit?usp=sharing