The Lincoln County Republican Committee will meet Wednesday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m. in Wiscasset at the Lincoln County Communications building meeting room (lower level).

Ruth Summers will speak for her husband Charlie who is currently deployed on active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a Navy Lieutenant Commander who will be based in Baghdad through August 2008 as part of a joint command with Navy Strategic Communications.

Summers has extensive experience as an elected official in Augusta, and as Senator Olympia Snowe's state director in Maine.

"He understands the concerns and needs of Maine's people, and has worked to assist them in countless ways," said Linwood Higgins, former State Senator from Scarborough. Summers served as a member of the Maine State Senate representing Saco, Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach.

State Senator Dana Dow said, "As head of the U.S. Small Business Administration in New England, Charlie took the time to listen to small business owners, and find creative solutions to meet their needs. Dealing with the government can be a challenge, but Charlie has a knack for making government work for Maine people."

Summers, former Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration and 2004 nominee for Congress, filed for the Republican nomination for Congress in Maine's First Congressional District last month before reporting to the Navy for duty. He has more than two decades of experience in federal and state government. Since 2005, he served as New England Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. In this role, he set small business policy for the region, worked with countless small business proprietors to help resolve and meet their needs, and oversaw administrative district offices in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Lawmakers endorsing Summers include: Senator Dana Dow, Lincoln County; Senator Earle McCormick, Kennebec County; Senator Christine Savage, Knox County; Rep. Jon McKane, Lincoln County; and Rep. Wes Richardson, Knox County.

Also endorsing him are former area Legislators: The Honorable Jeanne Begley, Lincoln County; The Honorable Linda Curtis Brawn, Knox County; and The Honorable Wendy Ault, Kennebec County

Other party leaders who are endorsing him include: The Honorable Hattie Bickmore, former chair of the Maine Republican Party; The Honorable John Harris, former chair of the Lincoln County Republican Committee; The Honorable Les Fossel, former chair of the Lincoln County Republican Committee.

In 2004, Summers was the GOP nominee in Maine's First District Congressional race, securing a higher percentage of the vote than any previous challenger to Democratic incumbent Tom Allen.