A retired soldier and a self-described “tech professional” are squaring off in the upcoming Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ronald Russell and Andrew Piantidosi will be on the ballot for the primary on June 11. Both candidates are vying for the chance to take on Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-1st District), who is running for reelection in November.

Russell’s website described him as a career military man and private business owner. Born in Fort Fairfield, Russell was raised on a potato farm, the son of a World War II veteran. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, beginning service as a second lieutenant in 1976.

From there, Russell served as an Airborne Ranger and Green Beret for more than 30 years, retiring in 2006. He then worked for a defense contractor, and eventually co-ran a small business for 14 years. He moved back to Maine in 2021. 

Piantidosi’s website indicated he was “raised in New England” and graduated from St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire in 2008. He does not describe his exact job titles, but said he worked in “infrastructure, software and cyber security” for several large companies and worked in sales at “several technology startups.”

Piantidosi said he now lives in Cumberland County with his wife Elizabeth and his two daughters, Taylor and Lucy. He indicated he has served as a substitute teacher in South Portland and as a Little League coach.

On the issues:

Russell said one issue that needs addressing is the ongoing political division in Washington. Contrary to extremist right-wing members of Congress, Russell said embracing compromise is the key to overcoming gridlock. 

“Nothing is getting done in Washington, D.C. because of the parochialism, party parochialism,” he said. “We seem to have lost all sense of decency in terms of how we deal with one another in the United States Congress.”

Russell said he does not believe in voting for legislation based on party lines, and “I think we just need to get back to solving the nation’s problems.” 

The economy is also a key issue for Russell. In particular, he said he thinks fuel prices are the foundation of economic success or failure.

“Fuel is related to the cost of goods in any number of ways,” he said. “It’s used in production of some goods. It’s certainly used to transport goods. It is used to heat and cool facilities where goods are produced. It has a huge impact.” 

Russell added that multiple current political issues over the past decade or more have a cumulative financial effect on the burden taxpayers are bearing now.

“Our citizens are paying now expenses we didn’t expect to have when budgets were formed and tax burdens were formed,” he said. “We know we have spent more money than we have taken in over the last several years.”

Piantidosi did not respond to multiple requests for an interview from Spectrum News, but his website described a platform based on “personal accountability, fiscal responsibility and civil liberties.”

Piantidosi cited “parental rights” as a specific issue. 

“Parents’ rights and choices must be preserved and respected in our schools, courts, and medical system,” he said. “We will stand united against all abusers and predatory forces that threaten our children.”

Other issues included the ongoing need, both in Maine and nationwide, for affordable housing.

“We need a major increase in affordable housing for seniors, veterans, young families and our homeless citizens,” Piantidosi wrote. “We will encourage the conversion of large, unused municipal properties and first-time home ownership of repairable vacant salvageable homes and limiting regulations that stifle development.”

Piantidosi also wrote of the need to protect the environment in Maine, speaking out against wind farms in particular. 

“New, safe, bondable energy sources will help stop the highly toxic solar farms and the unsafe inefficient windmills that kill our whales, marine life and coastal birds,” he wrote. “We must protect the grandeur of the Gulf of Maine by opposing the proposed 3.5 million acres of floating windmills that will certainly impact or end our fishing and tourism industries.”