Robert J. Wessels

Robert J. Wessels' career experience includes working as a businessman. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Moody Bible Institute in 2001 and an M.D. from the University of Arizona in 2022.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My wife, Christie, and I got married in South Paris in 2001. We have three amazing young adult children. Our two sons have graduated, and our daughter will be graduating from high school in 2027. I am a businessman, having started my retail career stocking shelves during overnight shifts. I have been a store manager for the past 14 years. Although I have earned my MBA, I believe that spending the last 20 years in the school of hard knocks has best prepared me for the job of Governor.

I have spent the last 18 years teaching personal finance and budgeting courses in the Oxford Hills community, helping hundreds learn how to navigate through life's difficult financial places. I also spent 4 years as Selectman for the Town of Paris. That is the extent of my political experience. I am not an establishment candidate or part of Maine's political elite.

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 have spent the last two years traveling across the state of Maine and talking with thousands upon thousands of everyday Mainers. The economy is always the first issue that comes up. Maine has some of the highest energy costs in the nation, we are among the highest-taxed states, and our housing prices are skyrocketing. My grown children are worried about being able to afford an apartment.

We must shrink the size of our government to lower costs and reduce taxes. We need a new perspective and approach to energy in the state, as demand will only continue to increase in the coming years. We must also remove unnecessary regulations to attract more businesses (and jobs) and to lower the costs of building and housing in Maine.We need to take back our government. Maine's government is running amok and doing whatever it wants — this is not how our system was designed to operate. Bureaucracies are often running the show, and our legislators and governor are acting without accountability.

Maine needs a dedicated group to do a deep dive into how our government is operating and what we are spending our money on. We must root out all corruption and hold the corrupt accountable. We need to identify all instances of mismanagement — whether intentional or unintentional — and put an end to it.

We must leverage technology to create efficiencies and make each department more effective, using fewer resources. All of these savings must be turned into LOWER TAXES!The only way to be successful long-term as a state is to have successful schools — and right now, we don’t. In the 1990s, Maine was among the top in the nation, but we have fallen near the bottom (or to the bottom, depending on the report). This is unacceptable — our children are our future.

Our public schools are currently being micromanaged from Augusta. We need to shift decision-making authority back to the districts. We also need to create a competitive environment by allowing school choice and ensuring easy access to non-public school options.

Competition is a key driver of success in the business world, and with competition among our schools, parents and students will be the winners. Maine will WIN!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Our state budget has exploded over the past seven years, growing by almost 60% since Governor Mills took office. I have spent my life creating budgets and helping people live within their means. It won’t be easy, but I am passionate about getting our spending under control and returning money to Maine taxpayers.

Money returned to the people will help reinvigorate our economy, create jobs, and make life livable again. I am committed to making decisions that benefit all Mainers — not just specific demographics.

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

"The Road to Serfdom" by F. A. Hayek

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

Integrity, transparency, and honesty.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

We need someone willing to fight corruption, no matter the personal cost. We need someone who will stand for what is right, even if they are the only person on that side. I believe I will do both of those. Additionally, we need someone who is business-minded to put our needs before our wants. This is how I live my life, and how I will live in the Blaine house.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To uphold the constitution and to ensure that the government stays in check.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy that honors Christ in all that I do; that I was fair to both parties and made decisions with integrity.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

The writing of the budget.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

The governor should submit a zero-based, balanced budget built around needs to the legislature. Clear priorities. This will then be voted on by the legislature; if the budget is bloated, the governor should veto it. Once the budget is enacted, the governor is responsible for execution and enforcement:

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

My philosophy is simple: use it transparently and only to protect taxpayers.

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

It is the relationship of two equal co-workers that require the other one to be successful, they have two different jobs to accomplish, but the same ultimate goal and purpose...to take the state to a better place FOR THE PEOPLE that put them there. The principle of the "separation of powers" is a beautiful concept in American government.

What do you love most about your state?

I love: The natural beauty of the state...the ocean, the mountains, the fields, the lakes, the woods. The authentic people. The rugged independence. The determined innovation. The hard-working, can-do mentality of so many.

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

Our government continues to grow, increasing the costs to the citizens and making almost half the people dependent on the government. If this pattern continues, we will not be able to afford. Those paying ridiculously high taxes will leave the state for a more reasonable one and it will continue our current downward spiral until it is too late.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

As we saw with Governor Mills during covid, the current system is too easy to be abused. We must make it harder to have long-term emergency powers.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Local people endorse me; you can go to my website at voterobertwessels.com to see them!

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

I believe that the current system makes it extremely easy to overturn laws, which can be both good and bad. The issue is that a special interest group can spend vast sums to get something on the ballot, and people are not made sufficiently aware of the problem until it is too late. I would propose to move the bar to a 55% or 60% majority.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean to you?

This means that the buck stops there. In the event of any issues or failures, the governor must hold those responsible (or himself) accountable for these problems. This also means the governor has a significant responsibility for ensuring the law is upheld and administered.