"Don't believe everything you see on TV," Charlie Summers said in his speech to Lincoln County Republicans on May 14 at the Wiscasset Communications Center.

One of two Republican candidates for the U.S. Congress, Summers said, "The young men and women over there are making a remarkable difference." Summers left Baghdad on May 1 after a nine-month tour as a lieutenant commander with the U.S. Navy Reserves. He was campaigning for Congress in Maine's First District when he was recalled to active duty in March of 2007. Since that time, Summer's wife, Ruth, has been campaigning on his behalf.

Summers, who had arrived back in Maine just three days before, stressed the need to provide mandatory funding for veteran's affairs, maintaining a presence in Iraq for another 12-18 months, and ending America's dependency on foreign oil as priorities.

Monday Summers attended a coffee at the home of John and Koko Harris in South Bristol. Charlie reviewed his qualifications including operation of his own small business, two terms in the Maine Senate, work with the Olympia Snowe Administration, and administrator of the Small Business Administration of New England.

While in Lincoln County, he also visited with small business people in South Bristol, Damariscotta and Newcastle. He then had lunch with supporters at the Center Café in Boothbay. In the afternoon he met with voters in Brunswick before attending a debate in southern Maine.

He will be appearing at a Values Voter Forum, at the University of New England at 7 p.m. on May 22.