Richard Ruhlin
Richard P. Ruhlin has announced his candidacy to represent the people of Brewer in the Maine House of Representatives, District # 21. Married to Regina (Murphy) Ruhlin, they have lived on Elm Street in Brewer for 49 years and have successfully raised 6 children (Richard Jr., Roger, Reginald, Randal, Robin, and Ronald.). They have gifted us with 11 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. A life-long learner, who grew up locally, attended area public schools and the University of Wisconsin; he continues taking informal courses representing an ongoing interest in governmental affairs. A veteran of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves, he is presently the owner and President of Denpro, Inc., a local, independent dental supply company and has been active in the dental industry for nearly fifty years.
Appointed by the Governor, he also presently serves as Chairman of the Board, Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission. He has previously served three terms as a State Senator, five terms in the House of Representatives, three terms on the Brewer City Council, and two terms as Brewer’s Mayor. He has taken the opportunity over the years to be active in several area and regional civic organizations, and at some point in time has served as—
- Chairman of the Board, Pine Tree Chapter, American Red Cross;
- State Director, National Ski Patrol System;
- Community Chair, United Way;
- President, Brewer’s original Chamber of Commerce;
- President of the environmental group ‘Friends of the Penobscot River’;
- Member of the Board, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.
In announcing his candidacy he stressed “We need jobs, good jobs. All things good in our economy start from quality jobs. We have not done enough to structure the future growth of these quality jobs. Have no doubt about it- poor education equals poor job opportunity. Yet Maine continues to fall behind the national average in its support of higher education. Higher levels of education equal higher pay levels and less unemployment. This failure directly limits our economic future for all our students. I intend to do all possible to correct this glaring problem, and do so without raising taxes.”
“Coupled with our failure to support higher education, we continue to ignore the obvious benefits to our future by failing to adequately invest in research and development efforts. The good jobs of tomorrow will be developed through today’s research, and that research gives a return on investment of $4-8 dollars for every dollar spent. Maine has slipped to 49th place in the nation in its support of Research and Development. This lack of support almost certainly assures that Maine will be near the end of the line when it comes to innovative job creation. We can, and must do better for our and our children’s, future. If you want to provide all the services that people need and want, you have to grow the economy; without adequate investment in Research and Development we will not have that growth in our economy.”
“Further, our people, our businesses, and our job creation efforts are presently at a significant disadvantage due to the high cost of energy in our State. The creation of a ‘Maine Energy Corridor’ that facilitates transshipping of cheaper Canadian electricity and gas power through Maine and allows our consumers to siphon off this lower cost energy for our own use is long overdue. This corridor has been proposed previously but its full use has been delayed needlessly. Now is the time to proceed while we can still benefit from it. This coupled with developing alternative energy sources locally to replace expensive and environmentally damaging foreign imports are critical to our future economic well-being.”
In previous legislative action, Ruhlin has sponsored or been instrumental in laws creating-
1) Homestead Property Tax Exemption- to help reduce property taxes for Maine residents.
2) National Guard ‘G.I. Bill’ to provide college education benefits to Guard members.
3) Maine’s particular and special ‘Right to Bear Arms’ law, as part of our constitution.
4) Mercury Emission and Pollution Abatement law to curtail its improper use and disposal.
5) Workers Comp. workers rights to rehabilitation to previous employment when possible.
He also was an early and ardent supporter of our lap-top computer program, and the initial funding for the Research and Development program now bearing fruit at the University of Maine.
“I fully recognize that what is positive and accomplished by the Legislature is done entirely through team work and leadership efforts. To succeed in Augusta, you need to be a team builder. I have proven myself to be that team builder in the past and look forward to having the opportunity to do it again. To work at finding new solutions to old and existing problems, proven solutions to new problems and in the process develop a higher quality of lifestyle, both economically, socially, and environmentally for all our people.”
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