LEWISTON – Saying he will not be a typical first-year legislator, Jim Handy is announcing his candidacy for the Maine House District 58 seat.

Handy, a Democrat, is seeking to replace retiring Rep. Michel Lajoie, D-Lewiston, who has served four terms in the House.

The district includes parts of Lewiston voting Wards 4, 6 and 7.

“While others may be trying to find their way around, I’m ready to get to work on the people’s business on Day 1,” Handy said in a prepared statement, citing his previous legislative experience.

Handy served in the Maine House from 1983 to 1992 and in the Senate from 1991 to 1994. He most recently served 18 consecutive years on the Lewiston School Committee.

“I worked extremely hard to improve our schools,” he said, “but I also realized decisions at the state level have a tremendous effect on what happens here in Lewiston.”

Handy said his passion for public service and desire to make an impact on the lives of Lewiston residents is superseded only by his energy and drive to get things done.

The fluctuation in state money sent to local school districts is one of the issues he wants to tackle in Augusta, he said.

“It’s never adequate, and the uncertainty makes it difficult to plan ahead and provide for resources to create a quality educational system,” Handy said. 

According to Handy, the average college student in the United States graduates with $30,000 of debt.

“Students and families should not be saddled with this outrageous kind of debt in order to compete in a global economy,” he said.

Handy also said he would champion the issues of the elderly, including the high cost of prescription drugs, as well as advocate for working families.

Handy attended Lewiston public schools and is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine. 

He is chairman of the board of directors at Literacy Volunteers–Androscoggin and has served on the board of directors of Healthy Androscoggin, L/A Arts and Androscoggin Head Start.

Handy and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of three grown children. He is employed by L.L. Bean and has lived at 9 Maplewood Road for 27 years.