Maine Republican Enters House Race — Then Reports for Iraq Duty

http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/07/maine_republican_enters_house.html

Maine Republican Enters House Race — Then Reports for Iraq Duty
By Jessica Benton Cooney |

Charlie Summers is the first Republican to officially declare a candidacy for the open U.S. House seat in Maine’s 1st Congressional District. The third-time House contender also is a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve — and he left Friday, three days after announcing his House bid, for a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

Summers told CQPolitics.com that his wife Ruth will act as surrogate campaigner for next June’s Republican primary, which — unless he musters out early — will occur before the completion of his tour of duty as part of the U.S. troop commitment to the Iraq war.

“She’s fantastic. I can’t do it without her,” said Summers of his wife. “She will articulate my ideas for me. If all goes well, I will be back the first week of August 2008.”

Summers, in order to run, had to obtain a waiver of an official Defense Department directive stating that no member on active duty may hold or exercise the functions of civil elective office in the U.S. government.

There are other aspects of his public service — including his acquaintance with politics and public sector service — that will provide talking points for his campaign to succeed six-term Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, who is leaving the seat open next year to challenge Maine Sen. Susan Collins.

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