Daniel Simonds

Daniel Simonds' career experience includes working as a forester.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I came to western Maine originally as a small boy, and fell in love with our wild forested landscape. I studied Forestry at UMaine and made a career in the forest products industry. My wife, Lucy, and I came to Rangeley in 1990 and made a home for our family. Now I am hoping to give back to our community by representing Maine’s Western Mountains in the State House.

My professional career included 20 years managing woodlands. I was one of the folks who were laid off when the big paper company left town, and found a way to begin a new career in my 40’s. I founded my own consulting business, specializing in environmental standards for the wood products industry. I help businesses untangle the complicated requirements of international standards, finding practical solutions that add value. By nature, I’m a problem solver, and I hope to put these skills to use in the State House.

I consider myself the product of a world-class public education system, and I am determined to ensure that our kids today get nothing less. My family have always had full access to affordable and excellent healthcare, and I believe that this should be true for everyone in our society. I’ve been fortunate in my career and always able to provide my family with a secure and comfortable living. I think we should work towards a society where all of these things are available to everyone.

I am a beginner at politics and I don’t have an agenda. But I can promise you this: I will represent our comm

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I believe government should work for the common good. Right now, trust in institutions is eroding, and in many cases government has failed to adapt—or worse, is working against the public interest. That’s unacceptable. I will approach this role seriously, make decisions based on evidence and principle, and hold myself accountable to the people I represent.The growing concentration of wealth and political power in too few hands, is a defining challenge of our time. This imbalance distorts decision-making and leaves too many people without a real voice. We need to recognize this problem and work toward a system that is fairer and more representative of all of us.District 73 is made up of small, rural communities that are often isolated and not always well connected to state government. These communities are distinct, and they deserve to be heard as such. I will show up, listen carefully, and make sure decisions reflect the realities that people here are actually living.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My career has been built around forestry, land management, and environmental standards. I understand how to balance economic activity with responsible stewardship. Maine’s natural resources are central to who we are, and we need to manage them thoughtfully and responsibly so they remain productive and sustainable for the long term.