Harold Stewart

Harold Stewart was born and lives in Presque Isle, Maine.[2][3] Stewart graduated from Presque Isle High School in 2012. He earned an undergraduate degree in political science and sociology from the University of Maine in 2016 and an M.B.A. from the University of Maine in 2018.[4][5]

Stewart's career experience includes working in the office of former U.S. Congressman Bruce Poliquin, for the Aroostook Partnership, and with the Northern Maine Development Commission.[4] He has volunteered with the Presque Isle Rotary Club, Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, Aroostook County Action Program Board of Directors, National Conference of State Legislatures Board of Directors, Northeast Forest Fire Protection Compact, and with the Presque Isle Fire Department as a firefighter.[4]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

With deep roots in Aroostook County, Harold "Trey" Stewart is seeking election to the Maine Senate after serving two terms in the Maine House and as a member of legislative leadership. Stewart will seek to enhance Aroostook County's relevance in Augusta and has a proven track record of effective representation, passing more legislation than any Republican in the House last year, while serving in the minority party. This legislation included workforce development efforts that received nation-wide accolades, strengthening benefits for Maine's veteran population, life-saving legislation combatting the opioid epidemic, and fighting to ensure rural Maine students have the same access to quality education as their urban counterparts, among other important initiatives.

Stewart's campaign focus is on creating and strengthening economic opportunities in Northern Maine so that future generations in the County can raise their families in the greatest place on Earth. His slogan is Jobs. Family. Future. and these words have guided his successes in the House and will continue to guide him as a Senator. Stewart has served for four years as as the youngest member of Maine's legislature and has proven that his youth is his advantage because he understands that the decisions made in Augusta will impact his and future generations more than any other. He knows that working together to improve the lives of the hard-working people in Northern Maine is the best way to protect that future.

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?

Jobs. As a jobs-centric legislator, I focus on policies that will create and strengthen opportunities in rural Maine.Family. Retaining our young people and attracting more working families to rural Maine is a top priority to ensure that the future of the County is strong.Future. As the youngest member of the legislature and soon to be the youngest member of the State Senate, building a bright future for Northern Maine is possible if we work together to get the job done.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Working in economic development while serving in the legislature has shown me that we need a strong economy if we want a robust and vibrant society. We need to strengthen key industries in Maine by getting government out of the way and allowing hard-working folks to do what they're good at and have been doing for generations here. While southern Maine is often pushing policies that negatively impact the rural parts of the state, we need champions for the rural Maine economy in Augusta. I've been that champion for the four years I've served in the House and look forward to continuing that work in the Senate.

I have pledged to not raise taxes in Augusta, and I will stand by that pledge as a Senator. In the House I fought to lower our property tax burden and will continue to do so. I believe the best way to generate tax revenue is to allow the private sector to flourish and create as much opportunity for folks to earn a good living and provide for their families. Creating opportunities for meaningful careers in rural Maine, not just jobs, is what I pledge to work hard at in Augusta.

As a member of a military family, taking care of our veterans and protecting their benefits is critical to me. While we achieved some successes in combatting the opioid crisis, there's more work to do to prevent Maine families and small communities from being destroyed by this scourge.

As a Senator, I'll continue to work on these policies and others to ensure our future here remains bright.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My parents and grandparents have been the biggest role models in my life. They've all dedicated themselves to building opportunities in Northern Maine and serving our community as best that they can, including given back whenever possible. These examples have had an impact on the way that I try to live my life and contribute to the community that I'm so humbled and honored to represent in the legislature.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The ability to listen to their constituents, get out and meet and talk with them, and understand what challenges they're facing at eye-level. The ability to think critically about solving problems in creative and out-of-the-box ways to make lives better for those you represent. The ability to work with others and in a team setting in order to accomplish your goals and represent the people who elected you in the highest and best capacity that you can to give them the most meaningful seat at the negotiations table.

What legacy would you like to leave?

One where the future of Northern Maine and Aroostook County is stronger, brighter, and better-off than it was when I was growing up here. I want to see the County and rural Maine be successful and will fight everyday to ensure that goal becomes a reality so that the next generation of County kids to be raised here will have the same opportunities I did.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

9/11 was the first major historical event that I can remember (I was 7 at the time). I remember being in school when the towers fell and it became clear that we were under attack. It was a scary time for a young boy, but I also remember how our community and nation came together after that moment.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I've got memories of helping with the family business on Main Street as a child. But, I have to say, my favorite job was volunteering for the local fire department. On the day I turned 18 years old, I registered to vote and filled-out the paperwork to join the volunteer fire department. This is the best job in the world and I proudly served my community for five years there, before being elected to office the first time.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Being the youngest member of the legislature for the past four years has been a challenge that can be frustrating at times, but I've learned to work with the people who are willing to work with me and figure out ways to be effective and represent my constituents as best that I can.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

It can be an asset, but I also believe that new ideas, fresh ways of thinking, and positive energy are also necessary to help address the modern challenges we are facing.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Rural Maine needs to address our population shortage, otherwise, we will continue to experience the other challenges we are seeing, like increasing healthcare, energy, and education costs, as well as a growing tax burden on those who remain here. We need to reverse this trend and draw in more younger people by showcasing the opportunities that exist here and that this is the best place in the world to raise a family and grow up.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

One with a mutual respect for the separate but co-equal branches of government.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. I've worked hard to build relationships across the board in the four years I've been there. Politics is a people business, so you have to be able to build coalitions and work with others in order to get things done. I've demonstrated that I've been able to do that effectively as evident by the fact that I passed more legislation last year than any Republican in Maine by working with folks from across the aisle and finding the areas of common ground to get things done. I plan on continuing to build and grow these relationships as a member of the State Senate next year.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

I'm currently a member of legislative leadership, so I don't serve on a committee, but I've previously served on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, the Taxation Committee, and the Opioid Task Force. I was elected by my peers to serve as one of two House Republican Leaders in this legislature because I was able to demonstrate that, even though I'm young, I'm able to find ways to work with folks both inside and outside of our caucus to get the job done and ensure that we have a meaningful seat at the table during negotiations. This is the pragmatic but vigorous approach to advocating for my constituents that I use when representing rural Maine and will continue to use in the Senate.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I presently am the Assistant House Minority Leader.