Two people are running for South Portland’s District 122 seat, Republican Brian Durham and Democrat Terry K. Morrison. The following are candidate surveys each has completed.

Terry Morrison 

Age: 37

Position seeking: Maine House of Representatives

Address: 18 B Street

Phone: 831-0828

Occupation: Restaurant manager

Marital Status: Single

Children: none

Highest Level of education completed: Three years of college

Name and location of school or university last attended: Business major, Husson College

Organizations and activities: Secretary of the South Portland Land Trust, vice chairman of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee

Top three issues: (in order of priority)

1. Strengthening Maine’s economy 

2. Quality affordable universal healthcare

3. Balanced and fair state budgeting 

In your own words, why are you seeking elected office? 

   Politics is my passion. With my community and state involvement I have developed relationships with people and know I have what it takes to recognize the positive changes needed to make our state a better place. With by business experience, I know first hand how the economy had negatively affected our state and want to work towards a stronger economic base for all Mainer’s to prosper from.  

Brian Durham                          

Age: 55

Position seeking:  State Representative, House District 122

Address: 28 Grand St.

Phone: 450-8244 (Day) 450-8244 (Night)

Occupation: Retired Coast Guard officer and lawyer

Marital Status:  married

Spouse’s Name:  Katherine Foley Durham

Children:  None

Highest Level of education completed:  B.S., U.S. Coast Guard Academy 1975; MBA, University of Southern Maine 1982; J.D., University of Maine School of Law, 1983

Name and location of school or university last attended: University of Maine School of Law, Portland

Organizations and activities: Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum; former board member, executive director, and railroad superintendent; currently education director, engineer and conductor. Portland Harbor Museum docent.  Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse Trust docent. Graduate of Portland History Docents program. Bar member in Massachusetts and Hawaii.

Top three issues: (in order of priority)

1.  Stimulate the economy and create good jobs by controlling taxes.

2.  Prioritize state spending: public safety, highways and education.

3.  Energy independence, diversity, and conservation.

In your own words, why are you seeking elected office? 

I am running for State Representative because I see a state that is no longer acting in the best interests of the residents of Maine. We cannot continue raising taxes on families year after year, and we cannot stifle businesses with fees and over-regulation. I want to represent you in Augusta to stop new taxes and tax increases. I will work to bring jobs back to Maine. I’ll fight to make health care more affordable, and seek to strengthen our schools.

We cannot tax ourselves into prosperity. Your representative should have the courage to explain why they had to raise taxes – not create “automatic” tax increases or put new taxes on soda.

We must control taxes and reduce red-tape to attract new business, stimulate the growth of local businesses, expand our economy, and create new jobs. State government must focus on essential functions – education, highways, and public safety (prisons and courts) - and measure the effectiveness of every dollar spent.

Health insurance is an area where state government has made things worse. You can purchase health insurance cheaper in New Hampshire than in Maine. We must allow more competition to reduce prices and provide more coverage choices.

As to energy, let’s put all the options on the table. I support tax credits to insulate our homes to conserve heating oil, drilling for domestic oil, and seriously evaluating alternatives such as nuclear, wind, tidal, hydro, etc. Saying no to every alternative is not an energy policy.